The Effect of Strengthening Executive Functions Through Group Games on the Social Skills of Preschool Children.

Abstract

Objective: This study was performed to investigate the effect of strengthening executive functions through group games on social skills of preschool children. Materials and Methods: This was a quasiexperimental study with experimental and control groups and pretest-posttest design. The statistical population included all the preschool children in Bojnord, Iran. The study population consisted of 30 preschool children who were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The intervention of strengthening executive functions was based on games that were performed in twelve 45-minute sessions in the experimental group. The collected data were analyzed using independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test in SPSS, version 23. Results: At the posttest stage, suitable social behaviors, nonsocial behaviors, and aggressive-impulsive behaviors were significantly different between the experimental and control groups by controlling the effect of pretest. Discussion: Strengthening the dimensions of executive functions, such as inhibitory response, self-regulation, and cognitive flexibility, through team games improves social skills in children. Conclusion: Group games by strengthening executive functions can develop social skills in preschool children.