This study aimed at examining whether a play-based peer supportive program improves isolated children's friendship relations. The subjects of this study were fourth year isolated elementary school students. Out of 18 students who, the teacher said, sh...
This study aimed at examining whether a play-based peer supportive program improves isolated children's friendship relations. The subjects of this study were fourth year isolated elementary school students. Out of 18 students who, the teacher said, showed the characteristics of isolated students, six children whose social and emotional isolation scores were above 100.96 point (M+1SD) or within the highest 33% were selected as the subjects. They were allocated into an experimental group and a control group, each including three students. The following research questions were addressed: First, is the play-based peer supportive program effective in improving isolated children's friendship relations? Second, is the play-based peer supportive program effective in enhancing isolated children's friendship relations behaviors in the class? The program focused on leading children to receive positive supports from peers through helping and talking with peers based on understanding of themselves and others. Besides, the program focused on some of the therapeutic factors of play, which were the expression of suppressed emotions, the purification of emotions, and the positive perception of emotions. The program was composed of a total of 12 sessions which were held twice per week. Each session consisted of relaxing activity (10minutes), structuralizing activity (30minutes), discussion (10minutes), and free play (10minutes).
Changes in isolated children's friendship relations were examined through the comparison of self-rated friendship relations scores and teacher-rated friendship relations scores gained from tests before and after the program. In order to detect changes in isolated children's friendship relations in the class, peer interactions (playing alone, playing with peers) and isolation behaviors (behaviors to avoid getting along with other children, behaviors to avoid expressing one's own opinions, behaviors to choose to give up one's own rights) in the class were videotaped during break times (intermediate activities). Through watching the recorded videotape, the researcher recorded children behaviors on a play behavior observation sheet and an isolated behavior observation sheet and then compared changes in frequency and specific behaviors.
The results of this study were as follows. First, the play-based peer supportive program improved isolated children's friendship relations. Second, the play-based peer supportive program enhanced isolated children's friendship relations behaviors in the class.
In conclusion, this study showed that the play-based peer supportive program is effective in improving isolated students' friendship relations in the class.