A Study on Knowledge and Practice of Mothers on

Play
Therapy for Pre-school Children in Selected
Anganwadi
Centers of Doiwala, Dehradun
Ina Flora Singh
1
, Grace M Singh
2
,
Mahalingam Venkateshan
2
,
Sanchita Pugazhendi
3
, Kamli Prakash
4
1
Lecturer, Ganga Sheel School of Nursing, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India,
2
Assistant Professor,
2
Assistant Professor,
2
3
Professor,
4
Associate Professor, Himalayan College of Nursing, SRHU, Dehradun, Uttrakhand, India
4
Associate Professor, Himalayan College of Nursing, SRHU, Dehradun, Uttrakhand, India
4
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Pre-school period is the important and critical period of life that has critical effects on
personality of an individual. In this period the children learn adaptive behaviors and effective
communication
skills. These skills can provide corrective emotional strategies and healing in conflicts. Play
is a right for
all preschool children and also an integral aspect to preschool children’s development. Play
therapy is an
effective therapeutic intervention of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Play therapy
allows pre-school
children to explore their feelings, increase positive interactions with others and develop
appropriate social
skills using their natural form of communication.
Methodology:
A Quantitative research approach with
Descriptive research design was used for the study to assess the
knowledge and practice of mothers on play
therapy for pre-school children. The population comprised of Mothers’ of Pre-school
children. The study
was conducted in selected Anganwadi Centers of Doiwala, Dehradun. Convenient Sampling
technique was
used to select the 60 subjects from the population. Self developed structured Knowledge
questionnaire, self
developed Practice checklist was used to assess the
knowledge and practice of mothers on play therapy for
pre-school children.
Results:
The results of the study shows that 35% of mothers have average knowledge
and 36.66% of mothers were having poor and average practices on play therapy for pre-
school children.
Conclusion:
The study results indicate that Mothers have average knowledge, and poor and average
practice
on play therapy for pre-school children. There is need to improve knowledge and practice of
mothers on play
therapy for pre-school children.
Keyswords:
knowledge, mothers, play therapy, practice, pre-school children.
INTRODUCTION
The Children of today will be adults of tomorrow.
The Wealth of a nation is not so much in its of economical
and natural resources but it lies more decidedly in the
kind and quality of the wealth of its
children.
It is
they who will be the creators and shapers of a nation’s
tomorrow. A child has to be pruned of its baser instincts
and trained in a proper manner in order to make him
beneficial to society.
For preschool children play is like the bridge
between preschool children’s experiences and
understanding, thereby providing the means for insight,
learning, problem solving, coping and mastery.
1
Play therapy allows pre-school children to explore
their feelings, increase positive interactions with others
and develop appropriate social skills using their natural
form of communication. Play therapy help create change
so that the preschool child function in a healthy way.
2
Benefits of play therapy include helping the
preschool child separate reality from fantasy, rectifying
misconceptions, addressing personal.
3
Corresponding author:
Miss. Ina Flora Singh
,
Lecturer, Ganga Sheel Sschool of Nursing, Bareilly,
Uttar Pradesh, India .
Email Id: inaflora88@gmail.com, Mob. 7060285997
International Journal of Nursing Education, April-June 2017, Vol.9, No. 2
109
Through play therapy preschool children learn
to gain control and mastery of their world, develop
problem solving skills and empathy, release tension,
assimilate and accommodate past events, prevent or
resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal
growth and development.
4
Play therapy improves preschool children’s self-
concepts, external behavioral functioning and language
development. Through play therapy stress in parent child
relationship is reduced. Preschool children’s can identify
their own emotions, strengths, and gain confidence with
the help of play therapy. Those preschool children who
received play therapy develop higher self –confidence,
improved relationships with others and develop a better
understanding of self.
5
Parents who have knowledge about play therapy,
can help in the preschool child’s therapeutic goals, and
recognize the benefits of play therapy, and are able to
give play therapy at home to build upon the gains the
preschool child is making in the play sessions. It is
important to encourage positive parenting skills and the
effort exerted by parents to facilitate change and practice
play therapy. How play therapy will be beneficial for
the preschool child and how parents can be involved
in the process of play therapy these all things the
parents should understand. Parents should know how to
utilize play therapy techniques in interacting with their
preschooler child.
6
MATERIALS AND METHOD
A Quantitative research approach with
Descriptive
research design was used for the study to assess the
knowledge and practice of mothers on play therapy
for pre-school children. The population comprised
of Mother’s of Pre-school children. Mothers of pre-
school children were selected from anganwadi centers
of Doiwala Dehradun. Mothers of pre-school children
who communicate in hindi, who were willing to give
consent and participate in the study, who were having
the children between the age of 3 to 5 years, who were
available at the time of data collection were included
in the study. The mothers of pre-school children were
selected by Convenient Sampling technique. On the
basis of standard sample size calculation total 60 subjects
were recruited for the study. Self developed structured
Knowledge questionnaire and self developed Practice
checklist was used to assess the
knowledge and practice
of mothers on play therapy for pre-school children. After
explaining the purpose of the study written consent was
taken from the participant before starting data collection.
Assurance was given to the subjects that the anonymity
of each individual will be maintained.
RESULTS
Table no. 1 Frequency and percentage distribution of personal profile characteristics of
mothers.
(N=60)
S.no.
Variables
Frequency (f)
Percentage (%)
1.
Educational status of mother
Formal education
27
45%
No formal education
33
55.0%
2.
Occupation of mother
Homemaker
32
53.3%
Employed
28
46.66%
3.
Occupation of father
Self employed
40
66.7%
Private job
20
33.3%
4.
Type of family
Nuclear
22
36.7%
Joint family
38
63.33%
5.
Monthly income of family
Less than 5000
17
28.3%
More than 5000
43
71.66%
6.
No. of children in the family
1-2
31
51.66%
3-4
29
48.33%
7.
Age of children
24-36 months
23
38.3%
36-48 months
13
21.7%
48-60 months
24
40.0%
110
International Journal of Nursing Education, April-June 2017, Vol.9, No. 2
111
Table No. 1
Illustrates that 45% of participants
were having formal education. 55% of participants
were having no formal education. 53.3% of participants
were homemaker, 46.6% of participants were employed.
66.7% of participants husband were self employed.
33.3% of participant’s husband were doing private job.
36.7% participants were having nuclear family. 63.33%
participants were having joint family. 28.3% participants
were having less than 5000 monthly income of family,
71.66% of the participants were having more than 5000
monthly income of family.51.66% of participants were
having 1 to 2 No. of children in the family. 48.33% of
participants were having 3 to 4 No. of children in the
family. 38.3% of the participants were having children
of 24 months to 36 months. 21.7% participants were
having children of 36 months to 48 months. 40.0% of
participants were having children of 48months to 60
months.
Table no. 2 (a) Frequency and percentage
distribution of knowledge level of mothers on play
therapy for pre- school children. ( N = 60)
Aspect
Category
Frequency
Percentage
%
Poor
4-6
9
15%
Average
7-9
21
35%
Good
10-12
19
31.66%
V.Good
13-16
11
18.33%
Table no. 2 (a)
reveals that, the knowledge level was
average among 35% of the mothers on play therapy for
pre-school children, 31.66% of the mothers were having
good knowledge , 18.33% of mothers were having very
good knowledge , and nearly 15% of the mothers were
having poor knowledge.
Table 2(b) Practice level of mothers on play
therapy for pre-school children.
(N=60)
Aspect
Category
Frequency
Percentage%
Poor
5-7
22
36.66%
Average
8-10
22
36.66%
Good
11-13
13
21.66%
V.Good
14-16
3
5%
Table no. 2 (b)
reveals that, the practice level was
poor among 36.66% of the mothers on play therapy
for pre-school children, the practice level was average
among 36.66% of the mothers on play therapy for pre-
school children, practice level was good among 21.66%
of the mothers on play therapy for pre-school children,
only 5% of the mothers were having very good practice
level on play therapy for pre-school children.
Table no.3: Correlation between practice score
and knowledge score of mothers on play therapy for
pre-school children.
(N=60)
Mean±SD
r-value
P-value
Practice
9.01±2.54
0.75
0.0001
Knowledge
10.06±3.23
Table no.3
Depicts that there was a significant
(p≤0.05) positive correlation (r = 0.75) between practice
score and knowledge score.
Table no. 4 (a) Association between knowledge score and selected personal profile of
mothers on play
therapy for pre-school children. (N=60)
Sr.
Sr.
No.
Demographic
Demographic
Data
Below
median
(< 10)
At and above
median
(>10)
Chi
Chi
square
Df
Df
P-
Value
Significance
Significance
1)
1)
Education status of mother
Education status of mother
Formal education
No formal education
5 (18.51%)
25 (75.75%)
22 (81.48%)
8 (24.24%)
19.46
1
0.0001
Sig
χ2
2)
2)
Occupation of mother
Occupation of mother
Home maker
Employed
20 (62.5%)
10 (35.71%)
12 (37.5%)
18 (64.28%)
4.28
1
0.038
Sig
χ2
110
International Journal of Nursing Education, April-June 2017, Vol.9, No. 2
111
3)
3)
Occupation of father
Occupation of father
Self employed
Private job
25 (62.5%)
5 (25%)
15 (37.5%)
15 (75%)
7.50
1
0.0062
Sig
χ2
4)
4)
Type of family
Type of family
Nuclear
Joint family
13 (59.09%)
17 (44.73%)
9 (40.90%)
21 (55.26%)
1.14
1
0.28
NS
χ2
5)
5)
Monthly income of family
Monthly income of family
More than 5000
Less than 5000
19 (44.18%)
11 (64.70%)
24 (55.81%)
6 (35.29%)
2.05
1
0.15
NS
χ2
6)
6)
No. of children in the family
No. of children in the family
1-2
3-4
20 (64.51%)
10 (34.48%)
11 (35.48%)
19 (65.51%)
5.40
1
0.02
Sig
χ2
7)
7)
Age of children
Age of children
24 months to 36 months
36 months to 48 months
48 months to 60 months
14 (60.86%)
5 (38.46%)
11 (45.83%)
9 (39.13%)
8 (61.53%)
13 (54.16%)
1.94
2
0.37
NS
χ2
Table no. 4 (a)
shows that there is significant association between knowledge score and education status of
mother, occupation of mother, occupation of participant’s husband, no. of children in the
family of the participants.
Hence it can be interpreted that the mothers who were having formal education 81.48% were
having more knowledge
regarding play therapy for pre-school children. Also 64.28% of the mothers who were
employed, and the participant’s
husband 75% who were in the private job and 65.51% of the mothers who were having 3-4
no. of children in the
family are having more knowledge regarding play therapy for pre-school children.
Table No. 4 (b) Association between practice score and selected personal profile
characteristics of mothers
on play therapy for pre-school children.
(N=60)
SR.
SR.
NO.
Demographic
Demographic
Data
Below median
Below median
(<10)
At and above
median
(>10 )
Chi
Chi
Square
Df
Df
P-
Value
Significance
Significance
1)
1)
Educational status of
Educational status of
mother
Formal education
No formal education
7 (25.92%)
32 (96.96%)
20 (74.07%)
1 (3.03%)
0
1
1.00
NS
F
2)
2)
Occupation of mother
Occupation of mother
Homemaker
Employed
27 (84.37%)
12 (42.85%)
5 (15.62%)
16 (57.14%)
11.31
1
0.0008
Sig
χ2
3)
3)
Occupation of father
Occupation of father
Self employed
Private job
31 (77.5%)
8 (40%)
9 (22.5%)
12 (60%)
8.24
1
0.0041
Sig
χ2
Cont...
Table no. 4 (a) Association between knowledge score and selected personal profile of
mothers on
play therapy for pre-school children. (N=60)
112
International Journal of Nursing Education, April-June 2017, Vol.9, No. 2
113
4)
4)
Type of family
Type of family
Nuclear
Joint family
18 (81.81%)
21 (55.26%)
4 (18.18%)
17 (44.73%)
0.05
1
0.82
NS
F
5)
5)
Monthly income of family
Monthly income of family
More than 5000
Less than 5000
24 (55.81%)
15 (88.23%)
19 (44.18%)
2 (11.76%)
0.01
1
0.88
NS
F
6)
6)
No. of children in the
No. of children in the
family
1-2
3-4
25 (80.64%)
14 (48.27%)
6 (19.35%)
15 (51.72%)
6.90
1
0.0086
Sig
χ2
7)
7)
Age of children
Age of children
24 months to 36 months
36 months to 48 months
48 months to 60 months
16 (69.56%)
9 (69.23%)
14 (58.33%)
7 (30.43%)
4 (30.76%)
10 (41.66%)
0.78
2
0.67
NS
F
Table - 4 (b) shows that there is significant
association between practice score of participants
and occupation of mother, occupation of participant’s
husband, no. of children in the family. Hence it can
be interpreted statistically that 84.37% of the mother’s
who were homemaker, 77.5% of participant’s husband
who were self employed and the 80.64% of the mothers
who were having 1-2 no. of children in the family
were having good practice regarding play therapy for
preschool children.
DISCUSSION
The findings of the study reveal that, the knowledge
level was average among 35% of the mothers on play
therapy for pre -school children. It might be happened
because half of the mothers were not educated and were
homemaker and also remains at home most of the time.
They were never been exposed to this topic ever.
The findings of the study reveals that the Practice
level was poor and average among 36.66% of the
mothers on play therapy for preschool children. It might
be because the mothers were not educated and were
homemaker and remains at home most of the time and
were busy in doing household activities. So they were
not much bothered about practice regarding play therapy.
So most of the mothers don’t practice play therapy.
The findings of the study reveals that Correlation
between the practice score and knowledge score among
Cont...
Table No. 4 (b) Association between practice score and selected personal profile
characteristics of
mothers on play therapy for pre-school children.
mothers on play therapy for pre-school children was
found to be significant. As the knowledge of mothers
on play therapy for pre- school children increases, the
practice of mothers on play therapy for pre -school
children also increases.
The findings of the study reveals that there is
association between knowledge score and education
status of mother, occupation of mother, occupation of
participant’s husband , no. of children in the family of
the participants. It might be because the mothers who
were having formal education have more knowledge
regarding play therapy for pre-school children. The
mothers who were employed went outside to work
and have knowledge regarding play therapy. The
participant’s husband who were doing private job
were having knowledge regarding play therapy as they
work outside. The mothers who were having 3-4 no. of
children in the family were having knowledge regarding
play therapy as they might be knowing that play therapy
is important for their children.
The findings of the study reveals that there is
significant association between practice score of
participants, occupation of mother, occupation of
participants husband and no. of children in the family.
It might be because the mothers who were homemaker,
means who remains at home have good practice regarding
play therapy. As they play with their children at home
and know regarding play therapy .The participant’s
112
International Journal of Nursing Education, April-June 2017, Vol.9, No. 2
113
husband who were self employed have good practice
regarding play therapy as they work outside and know
regarding play therapy. And the mothers who have 1-2
no. of children in the family are having good practice
regarding play therapy for pre-school children as they
might be knowing that play therapy is important for their
children.
The strength of the present study was the study
was conducted in community setting. Also, the study
was limited with certain areas like First the study was
conducted with a small sample size, which restricts the
generalization. Second this study was limited to the
mothers who were having children between the age
group of 3 to 5 years. Third Researcher has to rely on
verbal responses of subjects. Fourth Convenient sample
selection technique.
CONCLUSION
The study results indicate that Mothers have
average knowledge and poor and average practice on
play therapy for pre-school children. There is need to
improve knowledge and practice of mothers on play
therapy for pre-school children.
Ethical Clearance:
Ethical committee permission
was obtained from the Ethical committee of Swami
Rama Himalayan University, Dehradun.
Source of Funding:
Self
Conflict of Interest-
Nil
REFERENCES
1.
Bratton S C, Ray D, Rhine T, Jones L.The Efficacy
of Play Therapy With Children: A Meta-Analytic
Review of Treatment Outcomes.[Internet].
2005[Cited on 2016 April 18]; 36(4):376-390.
2. Bornsheuer J N. and Watts R E. Play Therapy
and Parent Consultation: A Review of Best
Practices.[Internet]. 2012[Cited on 2015 May 19]:
1-10.Available from: https://www.counseling.org/
resources/library/vistas/vistas12/Article_8.pdf
3. Webb J R. Play therapy with hospitalized
children. International Journal of play therapy
[Internet].1995[Cited on 2016 April 20];1(4):
51-59. Available from: http://kythe.org/site/wp-
content/themes/kythe/resources/play-therapy-with-
hospitalized-children.pdf
4.
Swan K L. Effectiveness of play therapy on problem
behaviors of children with intellectual disabilities:
A single subject design.[Internet].2011 May [Cited
on 2016 Feb 23]:1-114.Available from: http:
//digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc68051/
m2/1/ high_res_d/ dissertation.pdf
5. Blanco P J. The impact of school-based
child centered play therapy on academic
achievement, self-concept, and teacher-child
relationship stress.[Internet]. 2009 May [Cited
on 2016 March 12]:1-111.Availablefrom: https://
digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc9933/m2/
1/high_res_d/dissertation.pdf
6. Bornsheuer J N. and Watts R E. Play Therapy and
Parent Consultation: A Review of Best Practices.[In
ternet].2012[Cited on 2015 May 19]:1-10.Available
from:
https://www.counseling.org/resources/
library/vistas/vistas12/Article_8.pdf .