Home play therapy shows promise for autism social skills

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: Children： * Aged 2.5 to 14 years at time of enrollment, with a primary recruitment focus on children aged 3 to 10 years. * Meets diagnostic criteria for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), confirmed by a specialist clinician. * Full-scale intelligence quotient (FSIQ) ≥ 70 as assessed by an age-appropriate Wechsler intelligence scale administered. * Possesses sufficient verbal ability to engage with structured play-based intervention activities, as judged by the recruiting clinician. * Resides with and is cared for by a participating parent or legal guardian who meets the caregiver eligibility criteria below. Caregiver： * Is the primary caregiver (parent or legal guardian) of the enrolled child and resides in the same household. * Is able and willing to attend an in-person parent training session (approximately 2.5 hours) at the study site prior to intervention commencement. * Is able and willing to commit to administering the structured intervention program to the child for a minimum of 30 minutes per day throughout the 6-month intervention period. * Is able and willing to participate in monthly online video supervision sessions with the study clinician. * Has sufficient literacy and comprehension ability to understand program training materials and follow intervention procedures. * Provides written informed consent on behalf of the child and for their own participation prior to any study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: Children： * Known diagnosis of a genetic syndrome associated with ASD or intellectual disability, including but not limited to Fragile X syndrome, Down syndrome, tuberous sclerosis complex, or Rett syndrome. * Presence of a neurological disorder, including epilepsy (unless fully controlled with stable medication for ≥ 12 months), acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, or other significant neurological condition that may confound assessment of social cognition. * Uncorrected vision or hearing impairment that would preclude participation in behavioral or eye-tracking assessments. * Currently enrolled in another interventional clinical study targeting social cognition, communication, or behavioral outcomes. * Any medical, psychiatric, or developmental condition that, in the opinion of the recruiting clinician, would interfere with the child's ability to participate in or benefit from the intervention. Caregiver： * Unable to attend the in-person parent training session at the study site due to geographic, occupational, or other constraints. * Unable to commit to the daily home-based intervention schedule or monthly online supervision sessions for the full 6-month intervention period. * Presence of significant mental health difficulties or other circumstances that, in the opinion of the recruiting clinician, would substantially impair the caregiver's ability to deliver the intervention with adequate fidelity.