Table 4.
Usability of the instruments.
| Instrument | Description | Procedure | Population | Administration | Duration | Scoring | Training requirement | Accessibility |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment (ChIPPA) (i) I-ChIPPA |
Assessment of the quality of a child's ability to self-initiate pretend play. | Observation on two play scenarios [15 minutes each, (i) conventional imaginative play using toys, (ii) symbolic play using “junk” materials]. | Children age 3–7 years old | Therapist observation | 30 minutes | Actions observed were coded and then counted to be translated into raw score. The raw score is then calculated in and transformed into percentage according to norm reference. | Self-learning through manual (75-minute video) | Require purchase |
| Extension of I-ChIPPA: Indigenous Play Partner Scale (IPPS) |
The extension (i.e., IPPS) provides an added evaluation on social aspect in play. | The IPPS added the observation on playing in pair. | For indigenous Australian | Similar to original instrument | Simultaneously with the original evaluation duration | Additional scoring on initiative playing in pair for social context. | Additional reading on the journal article | Part of the original purchase |
| Knox's Preschool Play Scale (i) Knox Play Scale (ii) Preschool Play Scale (iii) Revised Knox's Preschool Play Scale |
The instrument has been evolved over time. The instrument is to evaluate children's developmental play ages. | Consist of 4 dimensions (space management, material management, pretense/symbolic, participation) and 12 categories of play behaviors. 30-minute observation each for inside and outside play. | Children age 0 – 6 years old. | Observation | 1 hour | Each category (a.k.a. factor) is scored with either a+ when the behavior was present, a− when the behavior was absent, or NA when no opportunity to observe. The scoring is according to age, and play development is scored by transforming into mean score on factor/dimension. | Not required. Self-training by reading the manual | Require purchase |
| McDonald Play Inventory | The instrument is to measure play frequency and play style. | The instrument consists of two parts. Part one (i.e., MPAI) has four categories, and part two (i.e., MPSI) has six domains with a total of 80 items. | Children age 7–11 years old | Self-reported (children) Proxy-reported (parents) |
15 minutes (without assistance) 20–30 minutes (with assistance) |
Each item was scored on a five-point Likert scale. Total score is calculated by summing-up the individual scores for each part. | No training required | May need to contact the author |
| My Child's Play | The instrument is to measure parent's perception on child' play performance. | The instrument has four categories with a total of 45 items. | Children age 3–9 years old | Proxy-administered (parents) | Not mentioned | Each item was scored on a five-point Likert scale. Total score is calculated by summing-up the individual scores. Higher score indicates better outcome. | No training required | May need to contact the author. Possible to replicate from the article |
| Play Assessment for Group Settings (PAGS) | The instrument is to evaluate attitude on organized and imaginative play. | The instrument has 38 items and evaluated by observation during play activities in several occasions. | Children age 2–8 years old | Professional rater | No specific duration | Each item was scored on four-point Likert scale. The raw score is totaled from the individual items and then computed and transformed to logits. | No to minimal training (or self-training) | May need to contact the author. Possible to replicate from the article |
| Play History Interview | A semistructured qualitative questionnaire to identify play experiences, interactions, environments, and opportunities. | Five epochs: sensorimotor, symbolic and simple constructive, dramatic and complex constructive and pregame, games, recreational. |
Children age 0–16 years old | Therapist interviewing the caregivers | Not specified | Qualitative response on each epoch—materials (what), action (how), people (with whom), setting (where). | Encourage to be trained | May need to contact the author. Difficult to reproduce from the journal article |
| Playform (i) Child form (ii) Parent form (iii) Teacher form |
The instrument is to evaluate child's play competency. | The instrument has 20 items. | Children age 5–7 years old | Self-administered (children) Proxy-administered |
Average 15 minutes (range 10–25 minutes) | Scored each item on three-point Likert scale (“not very well,” “quite well,” “very well”). Total score is by counting the “very well” response. | No training required | May need to contact the author. Unable to reproduce from the journal article |
| Test of Playfulness (ToP) | The instrument is to evaluate intrinsic and internal component that reflects a child's transaction in a play context. | The instrument has four elements with a total of 29 items. | 6 months–18 years old | Therapist observation | 15 minutes | Each item was scored on four-point Likert scale. The score is then totaled overall from raw score and converted into a measure score. | Self-training by reading the manual | Require purchase |
| Extension of ToP: Test of Environmental Supportiveness (TOES) |
The instrument is to evaluate the element of environment that influences play. | The instrument has 17 items and focuses on five elements. | 15 months–12 years old | Similar to original instrument | Simultaneously with the original evaluation duration | Each item was scored on four-point Likert scale. The score is then totaled overall from raw score and converted into a measure score. | Self-training by reading the manual | Part of the original purchase |