Randomised Controlled Trial of a Therapeutic Playgroup for Children with Developmental Delays.

Jodie and her team ran an 8-week playgroup called LEaP. Kids with developmental delays came with their parents.

Each week the group played games tied to the child’s own goals. Parents watched therapists, then tried the games themselves.

The study used a coin flip to pick who joined LEaP first and who stayed on the wait list.

Kids in LEaP reached more of their personal goals than wait-list kids. The edge lasted 28 weeks.

Parents also said they felt more supported. Yet both groups felt the same stress.

Tiede et al. (2019) pooled 27 play-based studies and found small-to-medium gains across language, play, and social skills. LEaP’s single trial lands inside that range.

Morgan et al. (2016) moved the same idea to babies at risk for cerebral palsy. Their GAME program lifted motor and cognitive scores, showing the playgroup model can start even earlier.

Cohen et al. (2018) tested Meta-play, a home version of parent-led games. Parents liked it and saw fewer autism symptoms. LEaP keeps the parent role but adds group peer time.

Rieth et al. (2025) ran a larger RCT of Project ImPACT. They also saw better parent skills yet no added child communication gains. LEaP’s mixed child-parent pattern now looks typical, not weak.

You now have a short, manualised playgroup that fits inside a typical school term. Use it when families ask for something social that still targets individual goals. Start each session with the child’s own goal sheet, let parents practice, and track progress weekly. The format works for developmental delay, not just autism, so you can open seats to a wider pool.