Effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play in Preschool Children

Izmir Democracy University90 enrolled

Overview

This study aimed to examine the effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet on preschool children's play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience. 90 children in Buca, İzmir, were randomly assigned to three groups: Laughter Yoga, Finger Puppet, or a Control group. The Laughter Yoga group participated in two sessions per week for four weeks, and the Finger Puppet group participated in two sessions per week for two weeks. Data were collected with the help of parents and teachers using questionnaires and observation scales.

The preschool period is a critical developmental stage in which children's growth is supported through play-based approaches and structured activities. During this period, providing experiences that foster cognitive and social-emotional development plays a significant role in the acquisition of fundamental skills. Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet are among the non-pharmacological and non-invasive intervention methods that support children's development. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these interventions on play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience in preschool children. The study was carried out using a randomized controlled pretest-posttest design including two intervention groups and one control group. A total of 90 preschool children enrolled in a kindergarten in the Buca district of İzmir during the 2024-2025 academic year were selected using a random numbers table and assigned to the Laughter Yoga (n = 30), Finger Puppet (n = 30), and Control (n = 30) groups through the URN randomization method. The Laughter Yoga group received two sessions per week for four weeks, while the Finger Puppet group received two sessions per week for two weeks; no intervention was applied to the control group. Data were collected face-to-face with the guidance of parents and teachers using the Descriptive Characteristics Form for Children and Parents, the Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, and PERIK. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. The normality of the data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. For normally distributed data, paired samples t-tests were used for within-group comparisons, and independent samples t-tests were used for between-group comparisons. The level of statistical significance was set at p \< 0.05.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Interventions

Laughter YogaBEHAVIORAL

The Laughter Yoga intervention consisted of two sessions per week for four weeks. Each session included guided laughter exercises, playful movements, and breathing techniques led by a trained instructor.

Finger PuppetBEHAVIORAL

The Finger Puppet intervention consisted of two sessions per week for two weeks. Each session included interactive finger puppet activities guided by the researcher, designed to encourage imaginative play, improve social-emotional skills, and promote psychological resilience in preschool children.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 36 MonthsMax age: 72 MonthsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Children enrolled in the preschool of Sevgi-Ferit Akın Middle School during the 2024-2025 academic year. * Children aged between 36 and 72 months. * Children whose parents or legal guardians provide written informed consent to participate in the study. Exclusion Criteria: * Irregular attendance to intervention sessions. * Failure to complete all intervention sessions. * Withdrawal from the study by the child or parent/guardian's request. * Presence of intellectual or hearing disabilities. * Diagnosis of respiratory system diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea). * Diagnosis of inguinal hernia or epilepsy. * Having undergone abdominal surgery within the last 3-6 months.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Play Behavior Scale For Children Aged 36-71 Months

The Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, developed by Rubin (2001) was adapted to Turkish and its validity and reliability were established by Aslan (2017). The scale consists of 21 items across five subscales: "Quiet Behavior" (items 1-5), "Solitary Play" (items 6-9), "Parallel Play" (items 10-14), "Social Play" (items 15-19), and "Rough-and-Tumble Play" (items 20-21). A five-point Likert scale is used for scoring, ranging from "Never (1)," "Rarely (2)," "Sometimes (3)," "Often (4)," to "Always (5)." Since the content of the items differs across subscales, a total play behavior score is not calculated by summing all items.

Time frame: Laughter Yoga Group: 4 weeks, Finger Puppet Group: 2 weeks

Social Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale for Preschool Children (PERIK)

The Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience Scale (PERIK) for preschool children, developed by Mayr and Ulich (2009), was validated for Turkish by Özbey (2019). The scale consists of six subscales-communication/social performance, self-control/conscientiousness, assertiveness, emotional stability/stress coping, task orientation, and enjoyment of exploration-and includes a total of 36 items. A five-point Likert scale is used for assessment: Always (5), Often (4), Sometimes (3), Rarely (2), Never (1). The maximum possible score for each subscale is 30, and the minimum possible score is 1.