Actively Recruiting
Optimizing a School-Based Therapeutic Play Intervention for Preschool Students: A Factorial Experiment Protocol
Led by The Children's Institute · Updated on 2026-05-27
225
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
8 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating a school-based therapeutic play intervention designed to improve social and emotional skills in preschool children with mild to moderate difficulties adjusting to school. This trial aims to understand how three different components of the intervention—individual play sessions, peer play sessions, and classroom push-in sessions—independently and together affect children's social and emotional competence. The study uses a factorial experimental design to optimize this intervention for preschool settings, focusing on feasibility and effectiveness. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive varied combinations of the three intervention components, including individual play sessions lasting 8 or 12 weeks, peer play pairs involving six biweekly sessions, and classroom push-in sessions with four biweekly visits. Individual play sessions are conducted twice weekly in a playroom using child-centered play therapy principles. Peer play sessions pair children with socially competent peers to practice cooperation and communication skills, while classroom push-ins support engagement and positive peer interactions within regular classroom activities. During the study, teachers and caregivers will complete assessments rating children's social and emotional adjustment before and after the intervention. Outcomes such as social-emotional adjustment, school connectedness, school anxiety, and emotion regulation will be measured using standardized tools. The study aims to identify which intervention combinations best support children's development and to create an optimized program for wider use. Participation includes regular play sessions at school over several weeks and completing assessment forms within specified timeframes.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
Optimizing a School-Based Therapeutic Play Intervention for Preschool Students
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Children enrolled in preschool classrooms at participating schools
- Identified through teacher screening as having mild to moderate school adjustment difficulties (15th to 30th percentile on Teacher-Child Rating Scale)
- Aged between 3 and 6 years
You will not qualify if you...
- Children with severe developmental impairments that prevent participation in the intervention
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person)
Duration - 8 to 12 weeks
Participants receive individual play sessions, and may also participate in peer play sessions and classroom push-in sessions depending on their group assignment. These sessions aim to improve social-emotional adjustment through child-centered play interventions in preschool settings.
Twice weekly individual play sessions; up to six biweekly peer play sessions; up to four biweekly classroom push-in sessions
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
Children's Institute
Rochester, New York, United States, 14604
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
E
Erinn B Duprey, Ph.D.
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
SINGLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
FACTORIAL
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
8
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