Measuring the Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of Therapeutic Playgroups in Early Intervention

All children have the right to play; the right to play is enshrined in Article 31 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Play is the fundamental way that children enjoy their childhood. It is essential to their quality of life as children.

Play permits children to engage and interact with the world around them. This exploration supports the development of their social and cognitive skills needed for learning. Research has described play as the most important 'work' a child engages him or herself in. Children with developmental disabilities often have difficulties establishing peer relations. Impairments in social competence can have adverse effects on play and can result in negative behaviors that are detrimental to forming relationships. As a result, the purpose of this research study is to determine if an intervention playgroup will increase playfulness and social participation for children ages 18 months to five years. The current research will also measure parental confidence in its attempt to understand the full effect of playgroups on the family unit.

Playgroups have the potential to encourage parents, caregivers, and their children to play and have fun together safely. Playgroups offer a stimulating environment that facilitates a child's developmental needs and encourages parents to develop stable support networks. According to research, to enhance participation for children with disabilities, play must be involved in something or with someone, must offer a sense of inclusion, must have choice or control in the activity, and must be working towards a goal or enhancing the child's quality of life.

Early intervention involves establishing developmentally appropriate play as an outcome or means to achieve goals. Playgroups have the added benefit of allowing the opportunity to coach caregivers on parenting, creating social networks, forging friendships, and seeking community connectedness. Practitioners who use a family centered approach see significant improvements in both occupational performance and parent confidence . Carryover of skills from the playgroup and into the home will be accomplished through the interaction between dyads. Findings from the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS) showed that 98% of families participating in early intervention felt competent in caring for their children's basic needs and 90% reported that early intervention services had improved their ability to help their children develop and learn.

Playfulness is defined as the way in which the child approaches any activity or task. Arguably, playfulness can be considered more important to defining play than the play activity itself. There is a strong correlation between playfulness and coping strategies a child will use later in life. Play positively affects cognition and problem-solving, thereby increasing their coping abilities. Through play, a child develops strategies of managing and exploring a world of rich interactions.