The Effectiveness of Play Therapy on Social Skills and Academic Performance of Students

Abstract

Today, social skills essential for modern life. This necessity, especially for a child who puts people in the face of multiple positions, is more tangible. Social skills are abilities that are causing behaviors that are positive or negative reinforcement. These skills can be successful in human relationships with others and create positive results. And promote the compatibility and effectiveness of appropriate behavior in relation to the rest of the community the child lives in the community, to provide (to the researcher, Soleimani, and Lavassani, 2009). Social process in which norms, skills, motivations and behaviors are shaped person and he is ready to enter the community (Nasaji Zavareh, 2009) In addition, according to academic performance as well as the way to develop social skills-are students (Alaghe Band, 2012). Performance is the set of behaviors that a person in connection with the duties of shows (Robbins, 1975; translated Persians & the Arabs, 2009). Atkinson (1998) Academic performance and ability of lessons learned or acquired, or in other words, The ability of the person learned or acquired in school subjects know that by standardized tests, measured (quoted Saif al, 2009). One of the ways in which social development and better learning helps students in schools, play therapy (health is general enough, Abedi & Khanzadeh, 2013, Rashidi Zafar, Janbozorgi & Ghasgghaei, s 2011). Psychologists and researchers several decades this method to treat a range of disorders and difficulties they have used and have confirmed their effectiveness (Beraton, Ray Rain & Joynz, 2005). Play therapy, proactive approach that can be used individually or in it, so that children and adolescents who sometimes do not cooperate during the verbal treatment allows through the game, feel more alert and reveal (Kazdin, 2010). (Shaffer, 1998) regarding the therapeutic effects of games on children, believes that crush the resistance in children, create merit and ability, creative thinking, refining, emotional discharge, role playing, fantasy, Creating symbolic education and the promotion of respect and attachment, positive emotions and overcome fears related to the growth of benefits for children is play therapy. Play a therapeutic role provides an opportunity for the child to be able to evacuate environmental concerns and dissatisfaction and emotions in them (quoting Karmykhail, 2006). In this research, Lewis and Karcher (2010) to study the role play therapy in reducing antisocial behavior and aggression indicated that play therapy could reduce the severity of anti-social behavior and aggression in children. Lanneret, vote and Bartlvn (2009) in a study as play therapy in primary schools reported that play therapy is effective in improving cognitive problems in children with learning disorders. Foroozandeh and Mahdieh (2014) the impact of video games on memory management treatment of hyperactive children did. The results indicated that play therapy is to improve children's memory. Health et al. (2013) study entitled Effectiveness of cognitive behavior therapy on memory games and social skills of children with spelling learning disability did. The results of analysis of covariance showed that the control effect of pre-test, post-test were significantly different between the control and experimental groups, The mean scores memory and social skills in group play therapy in post-test and post-test than the control group has increased. Babaei, Qnadzadgan and eloquent (2014) as the effectiveness of play therapy Gestalt approach to improving the social skills of preschool children have done. The results show that the game of Gestalt therapy to improve social skills (F =65/695) and social behavior (F=87/516) is effective. Rashidi Zafar et al. (2011) Effectiveness of Gray's play therapy to promote positive social behavior in preschool children examined. Play therapy in post-test results indicated significant increases in measures of positive social behavior, empathy, social orientation, , self-control, self-esteem, obedience, assertiveness, respect for the law and willingness to participate in the experimental group. …