Table 2.

Presession pairing checklist - Lugo et al. (2017)

Target Behaviours
1. Staff selects toys/games/materials that the child is interested in
2. Staff invites the child in play by sitting with them and engaging with the toys and games
3. Proximity – Stay within an arm's length of the child throughout the session
4. Praise appropriate play- Staff intermittently praises the specific action the child is engaged in/performing *
5. Staff member uses an enthusiastic tone when engaging with child
6. Staff member reflects vocalisations made by the child by repeating the word, sentence or vocalisations into the play (Ex. Child says “Oh no!” Staff repeats “Oh no!” and adds “Barbie fell down!” *
7. Staff member intermittently imitates the child’s play *
8. Staff intermittently describes the appropriate play skills of the child in sentences *
9. Initiate – Staff provides the child with new/additional toys/items/materials throughout the session that are utilized in the staff/child joint play
10. Staff members use materials available to create new forms/types of play throughout the pairing session (Ex. Staff uses a box to create a barn for the toy farm animals and encourages the child to put the animals in the barn) *

^*Must be displayed at least 4 times during 5-minute therapist-child PSP session.