The implementation of developmental play therapy with pre-schoolers in a primary school : a case study

Date
2004-04
Authors
Botha, Cynthia Evelyn
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: My study aims to explore whether a Developmental Play Programme can be implemented in a primary school with learners, using trained volunteer therapists from an old age home in the area. I also looked at the experiences of the learners and that of the volunteer therapists using Developmental Play Therapy as a therapeutic technique. The technique facilitates the development of child-adult relationships that are necessary for the development of children. The research is in the form of a qualitative case study. It is approached from an ecosystemic perspective i.e. learners are viewed as a core system which in turn is part of several other systems, for example the family, school, church, community etc. The systems are interdependent, which means that change in the one system also results in change within other systems. In the data production video recordings, unstructured interviews, observations and field notes are used. Data analysis was done using principles of coding. The results of the study show that Developmental Play Therapy is indeed an effective psychotherapeutic technique to use in a primary school with a group of learners and to use senior citizens as volunteer therapists to do the therapy.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel met die studie is om na te vors of die Ontwikkelende speelprogram op leerders in 'n primêre skool toegepas kan word, deur inwoners van 'n ouetehuis in die area op te lei as vrywillige terapeute. Ek het die ervaringe van die leerders en die van die vrywillige terapeute observeer waar Ontwikkelende Speelterapie as terapeutiese tegniek toegepas is. Die tegniek bevorder onder andere die ontwikkeling van ouer - kindverhoudings, wat noodsaaklik is vir die ontwikkeling van kinders. Die navorsing neem die vorm van 'n kwalitatiewe gevallestudie aan. Dit word benader vanuit 'n ekosistemiese perspektief, dit wil sê die leerders word gesien as die kernsisteem wat deel is van verskeie ander sisteme soos byvoorbeeld die familie, skool, kerk en gemeenskap. Die sisteme is interafhanklik wat beteken dat verandering in een sisteem ook verandering in die ander sisteme tot gevolg het. In die data - produksie is tegnieke naamlik video - opnames, ongestruktureerde onderhoude, observasies en veldnotas gebruik. Data - analise is volgens die beginsels van kodering gedoen. Die resultate van die onderhewige studie toon dat Ontwikkelende speelterapie 'n effektiewe psigoterapeutiese tegniek is om in 'n primêre skool te gebruik met 'n groep leerders, en om gebruik te maak van senior burgers as vrywillige terapeute om die terapie te doen.
Description
Thesis (MEdPsych)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004.
Keywords
Play therapy -- Case studies, Play assessment (Child psychology) -- Case studies, Preschool children -- Psychology, Dissertations -- Education
Citation