Final answer:
Feeding dolls are the best play activity for a 3-year-old child with autism to develop functional play skills because they foster social interactions and mimic nurturing and caregiving behaviors. This type of pretend play is an important component of cognitive and emotional development during the preschool years. The correct option is A. Feeding dolls
Step-by-step explanation:
An OTR® (Occupational Therapist, Registered) working with a 3-year-old child with autism to develop functional play skills would find that the best play activity for achieving this goal is feeding dolls.
This type of play activity is beneficial because it encourages the child to engage in pretend play, which is crucial for cognitive development and helps in practicing social interactions and nurturing behaviors.
Feeding dolls helps the child learn about taking care of others and acts as a way for them to model "grownup" behavior, an important aspect of their developmental stage.
Activities like stacking colored rings and dipping hands in rice grains help in developing fine motor skills and sensory exploration, but they don't involve the social or pretend play elements that are as conducive to developing functional play skills.
Pretending to be a fairy tale character can be too complex and abstract for a 3-year-old with autism, potentially leading to frustration or disengagement.
Engaging in functional play activities such as feeding dolls can also support the child's emotional development and understanding of daily routines, which aligns with the growth that's typical for preschool-age children.
Through such play, children can also exercise their budding theory-of-mind (ToM), which is starting to develop at this age, allowing them to understand and empathize with others' feelings and perspectives.
The correct option is A. Feeding dolls