Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity

Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity

This research project was developed in an effort to support teachers of young children exposed to adversity and to assist them with enhancing children's development through play. The project utilizes an occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual and an accompanying fidelity checklist. This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom and techniques to reduce teacher/caregiver burnout. The training was facilitated via Zoom with eleven teachers employed by an agency serving children exposed to adversity. The fidelity raters scored the fidelity checklist while reviewing video recordings of the training sessions. Participants responded to a Background Questionnaire via Qualtrics and were interviewed before and after the training. The interview data was used to analyze the impact of the training.

This pilot study examines the feasibility of a teacher group training program that aims to equip teachers with the skills of promoting development among young children exposed to adversity through play. The study utilizes occupational therapist-led teacher training program manual entitled Playing Playfully to Overcome Adversity (PPOA) and an accompanying fidelity checklist. This training is provided via virtual group sessions (Telehealth) and consists of five 45-minute-long sessions addressing ways to promote children's play and playfulness in the classroom.

The project's goals are:

1. To determine whether the above program can:

   1. Increase teachers' perceived competencies supporting play in the classroom
   2. Change teachers' views of how they can support children's play and playfulness

2. To identify program elements that require revisions/modifications based on teachers' feedback pertaining to:

   1. Aspects of the program that they find to be helpful or less helpful
   2. Aspects of the training they deem to be feasible to implement in their classrooms in order to promote children's play and playfulness

The PPOA training was facilitated via Zoom with eleven teachers employed by an agency serving children exposed to adversity. The fidelity checklist was scored while reviewing video recordings of the training sessions. Participants responded to a Background Questionnaire via Qualtrics and were interviewed before and after the training. Interview data was used to analyze the impact of the training.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Teachers and teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity who have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are not teachers or teacher assistants employed by agencies serving young children exposed to adversity or who do not have access to a device with reliable high-speed internet, camera, and Zoom capacity.