Mental and chronological age as predictors of age-appropriate leisure activity in children with mental retardation.

Effects of MA and CA on everyday leisure-time behaviors of children with mild and moderate mental retardation were examined by comparing 40 children with mental retardation to groups of 40 MA- and 40 CA-matched children without mental retardation on an adult-reported scale. Child's overall score, highest single behavior performed by the child, and highest behavior not performed because it was considered below the child's level were measured. Children with retardation performed most similarly to their MA-matches and well-below levels of CA-matches. Older children received higher scores in all groups. Late adolescents with retardation performed between MA- and CA-levels on the highest behavior considered too immature. Although MA best predicted overall functioning on leisure-time behavior of children with retardation, CA best predicted both single highest behavior performed and highest behavior considered too immature. Implications for teaching leisure-time behaviors to individuals with mental retardation were discussed.