Social Robots and Board Games for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder

This pilot randomized controlled trial evaluates the effectiveness of combining social robot-assisted intervention with physical board games to improve socio-emotional skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children with ASD often face challenges in emotion recognition, emotional regulation, and social interaction. This study aims to investigate whether integrating an interactive social robot (Kebbi) into board game activities can enhance children's social engagement, emotional comprehension, and cooperative behaviors compared to conventional occupational therapy. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the robot-assisted board game group or the conventional occupational therapy group.

Inclusion Criteria: 1. Children aged 4 to 10 years, of any biological sex. 2. Confirmed clinical diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). 3. Cognitive ability: Comprehensive Developmental Inventory for Infants and Toddlers (CDIIT) results indicating borderline to normal cognitive function, with a Developmental Quotient (DQ) \>= 70. 4. Socio-emotional ability: CDIIT socio-emotional subscale indicating borderline development, with a Developmental Quotient (DQ) between 70 and 84. 5. Legal guardian provides written informed consent and child provides assent where appropriate. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Inability to comprehend or engage in interactive activities involving the Kebbi Air robot or physical board games. 2. Presence of other primary diagnoses affecting emotional or social functioning, such as severe neurodevelopmental disorders, psychiatric disorders, or ASD with severe emotional disturbances that prevent participation in intervention activities (CDIIT DQ \< 70). 3. Inability to commit to regular weekly intervention sessions, or parental unwillingness to participate in required observational assessments and questionnaire completion. 4. Strong behavioral resistance or severe aversion to digital interactive tools or board game activities. 5. Inability to follow simple two-step verbal instructions after a preliminary 10-minute trial assessment conducted by the occupational therapist.