Play as a stimulator for the development of children with West syndrome and other epileptic encephalopathies at early ages

Abstract

Games can be an ideal tool to stimulate the development of children aged 0 to 6 years with West syndrome (Del Toro, 2013). This study aims to provide an overview of intervention through play in children with epileptic encephalopathies, starting with knowledge of its development and ending with an intervention model for this population. Research is presented that was conducted with 53 children with epileptic encephalopathies and aimed at generating scientific knowledge about the features of play development among such children and basic aspects to present a suitable educational response in keeping with their needs. This descriptive approach follows a non-experimental expost- facto type methodology and data was captured using the poll technique. A playbased intervention is also presented in the form of a case study comparing the development of children who have worked with this play-based program and those who have not. The results show that pupils with epileptic encephalopathy that have followed a play-based program have better motor, linguistic and cognitive development.

Keywords

• early childhood
• play
• development
• West syndrome and epileptic encephalopathies