The effect of play-based social adjustment program on social skills and play skills of 5-6 year old children

With this research, it is aimed to reveal the effect of the play-based education program on the social skills and play skills of 5-6 year old children. Within the scope of the research, a program consisting of activities aiming to support play-based and social skills was prepared. The research was carried out in a kindergarten located in Güngören district of Istanbul. The sample of the study was determined by purposive sampling method and a total of 38 (19 experiment, 19 control) 5-6 year old children were included in the study. A quasi-experimental model with pretest-posttest control group was used in the study. The data of the study were collected with the 'General Information Form, PKBS-2 Social Skills Sub-Scale and Play Skills Assessment Scale (OBDO)'. The implementation of the program took 14 weeks, including the pre-evaluation and post-evaluation stages. The program applied to the children in the experimental group were completed with the implementation of a total of 27 activities, 2 days a week for a period of 9 weeks. The scales used in the research were applied to the children in the control group only in the pre-evaluation and post-evaluation stages. After the scales applied in the pre-evaluation phase, the children in the control group continued their normal education. The scales were filled in by the parents and teachers of the children in the experimental and control groups. The data obtained from the applied scales were analyzed using the SPSS 23.00 program. The analysis was completed with Shapiro-Wilk applied to the obtained data and appropriate parametric or nonparametric tests according to the skewness and kurtosis values. It was determined that the 'Play-Based Social Adaptation Program' applied to the experimental group had a positive effect on children's social skills and play skills, according to teacher evaluations. The findings of the study were discussed and interpreted in line with the relevant literature. Finally, the results of the research were summarized and suggestions were given to experts and researchers.