Effects of play training of adults on the cognitive and play behavior of preschool children

Abstract

Mothers and caregivers of twenty‐eight preschool children were trained to facilitate children's play. Effects of training on children's verbal cognition were measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test‐Revised; effects on children's play were measured using the Parten#shPiaget Play Scale at the child's care site. Mothers and caregivers were assigned to training groups balanced for care site, gender, and age of child. In the experimental group, mothers and caregivers attended 14 one‐hour noontime play training sessions together at the child care site; in the control group, only caregivers attended the 14 one‐hour play training sessions. Overall, play training of adults was shown to be an effective mechanism to enhance preschool children's verbal cognition. However, mother#shcaregiver training was more effective than caregiver only training. Children's social and cognitive play and non‐play behavior did not change significantly with adult training.

Key Words:

• Play
• training
• children
• caregivers
• parents and child care