The use of interactive games by children with down syndrome

Abstract

Introduction: Playing is fundamental for children's development and an important resource in working with children, but it is important to consider that toys and games have been transformed and the virtual games were included, which started to be used in Occupational Therapy. Objective: To analyze three platforms and six virtual games, to describe the participation of children with Down syndrome in the use of interactive games and to identify the most accessible platform, and the preference of the children. Method: This is an exploratory, descriptive study with a quantitative approach involving 13 children with Down syndrome, aged between 10 and 13 years old, using six interactive games from Leap Motion, Nintendo platforms Wii® and Timocco. Results: In the children's performance variables, the Timocco Platform reached the highest averages, with statistically significant differences in: “knowing what to do,” “respecting the distance indicated for the platform,” “playing with independence,” and “players´ performance.” The correlation between the “players´ performance” and the “demonstration of interest” variables presented significant results. In children's evaluation on the platform and the preferred game, Timocco was chosen, with the game called Falling fruits. The reasons for this choice included the fact that the game was fun, the child's good performance and is easy to play. Conclusion: The Timocco platform presented a higher average in all the variables studied, pointing to the importance of carrying out new studies in which the platform games can be used as an occupational therapy resource for children with Down syndrome, aiming to stimulate the development learning.