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Open research questions in Child Therapy and Development

409 gap statements mined from Child Therapy and Development papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,777 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The need for platforms aiming at a bigger audience of persons with ASD. The need for a larger sample size in research on serious gaming platforms for people with ASD. The lack of comprehensive reviews on the characteristics and design criteria of serious gaming platforms suitable for people with autism.

    Gaming Platforms for People with ASD · 2024 · DOI

  • The paper identifies challenges in terms of the frequency and individualization of coaching, highlighting the need for more frequent and tailored support. The study notes challenges in terms of measuring student behaviors and outcomes, particularly in relation to the use of observational protocols and the potential for response bias.

    Observation of Student and Teacher Behaviors during a Preliminary Active Playful Learning Intervention in Kindergarten Classrooms · 2024 · DOI

  • Children with special needs face challenges in achieving balanced development. Recreational activities may not be accessible or inclusive for all children with special needs.

    Exploring the Importance of Recreational Activities for the the Holistic Development of Children with Special Needs: A Systematic Review · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to explore the significance of recreational activities in promoting holistic development in children with special needs. The existing literature lacks a systematic review of the effects of recreational activities on holistic development.

    Exploring the Importance of Recreational Activities for the the Holistic Development of Children with Special Needs: A Systematic Review · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for research on the effectiveness of play-based learning in improving reading literacy. The lack of understanding of the challenges encountered during play-based learning activities.

    EFFECTIVENESS OF PLAY-BASED LEARNING STRATEGIES IN IMPROVING READING LITERACY OF GRADE 1 LEARNERS · 2026 · DOI

  • According to the results of the research, the following recommendations can be offered: Use of Play Therapy in Clinical Settings: Play therapy is a common intervention that should be incorporated by psychologists and therapists when dealing with children who have ADHD to enhance emotional and behavioral responses.

    Play Therapy and Emotional Regulation in Children with ADHD · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a lack of evidence-based interventions addressing belonging, particularly in schools. There is a need for effective interventions to promote belonging and improve mental health in adolescents.

    Three cluster randomised controlled trials in Portugal, Czechia and the United Kingdom to test the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of an augmented social play intervention in schools to support real-world connection and sense of belonging (Lina trial protocol) · 2026 · DOI

  • The need for effective organization of play in preschool education. The lack of understanding of the methods and means of organizing play in preschool education.

    SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF PLAY ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to understand the dynamics of play in the schoolyard. There is a lack of knowledge on how to design schoolyards that cater for varied play types.

    Knowledge on Children’s Play Behaviour During Recess to Be Used for Designing Sustained Playable Schoolyards for All Children · 2026 · DOI

  • Children with special needs face challenges in verbal expression and motor coordination. The study had to address the challenges of collecting data from children with special needs.

    Contributions of Musical Activities to the Development of the Verbal and Musical Expression Skills of Children with Special Needs · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research can build on the study's findings to develop more effective programs for children with special needs. Future research can investigate the long-term effects of music-based activities on the development of verbal and musical expression skills.

    Contributions of Musical Activities to the Development of the Verbal and Musical Expression Skills of Children with Special Needs · 2026 · DOI

  • Finally, future research is recommended to collect at least five data per condition to meet the qualitative indicators for single-subject research designs, to design play interventions based on the relationship between cognitive skills and play skills for researchers conducting play research, and to collect generalization data in unstructured play environments in play research.

    Play Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Meta-Analysis of Single-Subject Studies · 2026 · DOI

  • Based on the findings of this study, several recommendations are proposed for both practice and future research. Given the strong effects of creative drama on early literacy skills, particularly phonological and print awareness, these activities should be systematically and deliberately integrated into early childhood education curricula.

    The Effect of Creative Drama Activities on Preschool Children’s Early Literacy and Social Skills · 2026 · DOI

  • In summary, while AAC interventions for children with ASD and IDD who are MV/NS have begun to integrate play elements, the literature remains sparse regarding explicit play-based outcomes.

    A Systematic Review of Play-Integrated AAC Interventions for Minimally Verbal and Nonspeaking Children · 2026 · DOI

  • Given the limitations of the present study, including its cross-sectional design, reliance on proxy measures, and use of a non-immersive VR environment, the results should be interpreted with caution.

    Engagement in gamified virtual reality sports activities and sports participation intention among adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: the mediating roles of immersion and enjoyment · 2026 · DOI

  • The limited understanding of the psychological factors that drive caregivers' behaviors. The lack of studies applying the Theory of Planned Behavior to understand caregivers' intentions to play with their children.

    Supplemental Material for Using the Theory of Planned Behavior to Understand Caregivers’ Intentions to Play With Their Children · 2026 · DOI

  • This is a single case study, and the findings should be understood as indicative for justifying future investigations. The study has a small sample size.

    Literatura infantil na Terapia Ocupacional: um estudo orientado pela Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need for further investigations on the use of children's books as a playful resource in occupational therapy. There is a lack of understanding of the effectiveness of occupational therapy interventions using children's books.

    Literatura infantil na Terapia Ocupacional: um estudo orientado pela Classificação Internacional de Funcionalidade, Incapacidade e Saúde · 2026 · DOI

  • The challenge of balancing the need for risk taking with the need for protection and safety.

    Growing Through Risk: Supporting Play and Wellbeing for 9 to 15 Years · 2026 · DOI

  • Crucial cognitive, emotional, social, and physical advancements occur during middle childhood (ages 6 to 12 years old), yet research on this developmental period is currently lacking.

    Play2gether: Exploring Psychoeducational-Based Groups for Middle Childhood Child-Caregiver Dyads · 2026

  • Develop school-based counseling programs and provide therapeutic play facilities and teacher training.

    Play Therapy Techniques as an Intervention to Address Tantrums in Early Childhood · 2026 · DOI

  • The development of children's memory requires appropriate and continuous stimulation through activities that are aligned with the characteristics of early childhood.

    Peran Guru dan Orang Tua dalam Meningkatkan Daya Ingat Anak Usia Dini melalui Permainan Tradisional Edukatif · 2026 · DOI

  • Although limited by the case study design and small sample, the findings support the integration of structured play therapy into pediatric nursing practice as a simple, developmentally appropriate, non-pharmacological intervention to promote children’s emotional well-being during hospitalization.

    Implementation of Coloring and Puzzle Play Therapy to Reduce Hospitalization Anxiety in Preschoolers: A Case Study · 2026 · DOI

  • Investigating the long-term effects of play-based learning on reading literacy. Comparing the effectiveness of play-based learning with other instructional approaches. Examining the impact of play-based learning on other academic subjects.

    EFFECTIVENESS OF PLAY-BASED LEARNING STRATEGIES IN IMPROVING READING LITERACY OF GRADE 1 LEARNERS · 2026 · DOI

  • A multi-center RCT is needed to further investigate the efficacy of Res@t-A - Future studies should include a control group - Sample size calculations and power analyses should be conducted to evaluate the efficacy of the combined program…

    Resource-strengthening training for adolescents with problematic gaming (Res@t-A): Results from an exploratory single-arm pre-post-follow-up intervention study · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Child Therapy and Development

Most recent work

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) There is a need to explore the significance of recreational activities in promoting holistic development in children with special needs (“Exploring the Importance of Recreational Activities for the the Holistic…”, 2026); (2) The lack of understanding of the challenges encountered during play-based learning activities (“EFFECTIVENESS OF PLAY-BASED LEARNING STRATEGIES IN IMPROVING READING LITERACY…”, 2026); (3) There is a lack of evidence-based interventions addressing belonging, particularly in schools (“Three cluster randomised controlled trials in Portugal, Czechia and the United…”, 2026); (4) The lack of understanding of the methods and means of organizing play in preschool education (“SPECIFIC ASPECTS OF PLAY ACTIVITY IN CHILDREN'S DEVELOPMENT”, 2026); (5) There is a need to understand the dynamics of play in the schoolyard (“Knowledge on Children’s Play Behaviour During Recess to Be Used for Designing…”, 2026). 409 gap statements have been mined from Child Therapy and Development papers in our 7.9M-paper local library, which holds 2,777 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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