Caregiver perceptions of children with disabilities play with modified ride-on toy cars as co-occupation: A PECO model approach

This qualitative descriptive study aimed to understand caregiver perceptions of their child’s play using a modified ride-on toy car (MROC). Three caregivers of children with disabilities residing in West Virginia, United States, completed semi-structured interviews and two caregivers also completed photo-elicitation interviews. Directed content analysis and subsequent inductive approach were used based on constructs of the Process for Establishing Children’s Occupations (PECO; Wiseman et al., 2005). These constructs, including process stages of play and influences on play, were identified within the data, along with motivations, parent views and values, and transformation. Two additional themes were identified: performance skills and co-occupation. Caregivers shared that playing with the MROCs supported their children with disabilities in becoming more independent and motivated during play, strengthening motor and cognitive skills, and enjoying opportunities for family socialization and typical play experiences. Parents valued play with the MROC as it provided family members with joy. The MROC design paired with the child’s disability necessitated play being a co-occupation that family members helped facilitate. Results support using MROCs to promote play development, and motor, sensory, and cognitive skills in children with disabilities. This study highlights the benefits of co-occupation between family members and children with disabilities to enable them to play and move with more autonomy. Further, caregiver perspectives of play with MROCs align with occupational science definitions of co-occupation, characterized by shared temporality, context, and emotionality. Additional qualitative research focusing on the children’s perspectives of the co-occupation of play using a MROC is needed.