Children with autism approach more imitative and playful adults

Children with autism were selected to be in high-approach and low-approach groups based on a median split of their proximity-seeking behavior with adults (looking at, approaching and touching adults) during videotaped interactions. The same videotapes of those two sets of interactions were then coded and analyzed for the adult partners' behaviors. The adult interaction partner of high-approach children showed more looking at child, smiling at child, moving toward child, inviting child to play, imitating child in play and being playful.