Abstract:
The objective of this research was to study the effect of play therapy on attention span, amount and accuracy of work of chronic hospitalized children. The sample consisted of six boys and girls, aged 7-9 years, who had been hospitalized at least 1 week before this study began and who were supposed to stay for another 2 weeks. The research assistant tested these childrens basic development abilities. Six children who passed the basic development abilities tests were measured attention span, amount and accuracy of work. These children were divided into 2 groups, i.e., the experimental and control groups. Each group included 3 children. The experimental group received play therapy as well as participated in the recreational activities provided by the hospital. The control group was allowed to participate in the routine recreational activities as provided by the hospital. After 2 weeks, The research assistant measured the childrens attention span, amount and accuracy of work. The result is that the experimental group showed higher attention span, amount and accuracy of working performance in the post-test than those in the pre-test. In the control group, there was only one child who showed higher attention span, amount and accuracy of working performance in the post-test than those in the pre-test, and there were two children who showed lower attention span, amount and accuracy of working performance in the post-test than those in the pre-test.