The study carried out a group Theraplay program for 5-year old children to enhance their relationships with teachers and peer group so as to examine how their enhanced relationships with teachers and peer group influence their adaptation to preschool ...
The study carried out a group Theraplay program for 5-year old children to enhance their relationships with teachers and peer group so as to examine how their enhanced relationships with teachers and peer group influence their adaptation to preschool educational institutes.
The subject of the study was 18 5-year old children and they were divided into a 9-member experimental group and a 9-member control group. The group Theraplay program was carried out for the experimental group in 12 sessions over 6 weeks and for 30-35 minutes for each session.
In order to verify the efficiency of the program, the study used assessment tools such as teacher-and-child relationship, peer group relationship and adaptation to the daily works of preschool educational institute and analytical tools such as making the life of preschool educational institute dynamic and behavioral change checklist. For data analysis, the study used t-test, paired-t test and Wilcoxon signed-rank Test. In addition, the study analyzed changes in the Kinetic School Drawing (KSD) of the experimental group in the pre-test and post test after the program was completed and the researcher and co-researcher also analyzed behavioral changes of individual children throughout the program.
The findings of the study can be summarized as follows:
First, what changes were shown in the quantitative analysis of the group Theraplay program? It was found that the program increased intimacy and reduced discord and dependency in the teacher-and-child relationship. In addition, the experimental group showed increase in sociability, pro-social behaviors and leadership in its peer group relationship. The adaptability of the experimental group to the daily works of preschool educational institute was also increased. Therefore, it was verified that the program helps preschoolers with maladjustment enhance their relationships with teachers and peer group, which ultimately brings out their adaptability to the daily works of preschool educational institute.
Second, what changes were shown in the qualitative analysis of the group Theraplay program? According to the analysis of Kinetic School Drawing (KSD) done before and after the program, the overall experimental group showed positive changes. In addition, according to the analysis of their behavioral changes during their participation in the group Theraplay program, the children with maladjustment changed to positive ways, for example, growing sense of self, establishing a good relationship with others, enhanced sense of self-respect and cooperation with peer group.
These findings indicate that the group Theraplay program have an effect on the improvement of the adaptability of children with maladjustment to preschool educational institutes by helping them enhance their relationships with teachers and peer group.