NCT07496476

Effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play in Preschool Children

The Effect of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play Behavior on Social-Emotional Well-Being and Psychological Resilience in Preschool Children

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (actual)
• Sponsor: Izmir Democracy University · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 36 Months – 72 Months
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This study aimed to examine the effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet on preschool children's play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience. 90 children in Buca, İzmir, were randomly assigned to three groups: Laughter Yoga, Finger Puppet, or a Control group. The Laughter Yoga group participated in two sessions per week for four weeks, and the Finger Puppet group participated in two sessions per week for two weeks. Data were collected with the help of parents and teachers using questionnaires and observation scales.

Detailed description

The preschool period is a critical developmental stage in which children's growth is supported through play-based approaches and structured activities. During this period, providing experiences that foster cognitive and social-emotional development plays a significant role in the acquisition of fundamental skills. Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet are among the non-pharmacological and non-invasive intervention methods that support children's development. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of these interventions on play behavior, social-emotional well-being, and psychological resilience in preschool children. The study was carried out using a randomized controlled pretest-posttest design including two intervention groups and one control group. A total of 90 preschool children enrolled in a kindergarten in the Buca district of İzmir during the 2024-2025 academic year were selected using a random numbers table and assigned to the Laughter Yoga (n = 30), Finger Puppet (n = 30), and Control (n = 30) groups through the URN randomization method. The Laughter Yoga group received two sessions per week for four weeks, while the Finger Puppet group received two sessions per week for two weeks; no intervention was applied to the control group. Data were collected face-to-face with the guidance of parents and teachers using the Descriptive Characteristics Form for Children and Parents, the Play Behavior Scale for Children Aged 36-71 Months, and PERIK. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 22. The normality of the data distribution was assessed using the Shapiro-Wilk test. For normally distributed data, paired samples t-tests were used for within-group comparisons, and independent samples t-tests were used for between-group comparisons. The level of statistical significance was set at p \< 0.05.

Conditions

• Laughter Yoga
• Psychological Well Being
• Psychological Resilience

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Laughter Yoga	The Laughter Yoga intervention consisted of two sessions per week for four weeks. Each session included guided laughter exercises, playful movements, and breathing techniques led by a trained instructor.
BEHAVIORAL	Finger Puppet	The Finger Puppet intervention consisted of two sessions per week for two weeks. Each session included interactive finger puppet activities guided by the researcher, designed to encourage imaginative play, improve social-emotional skills, and promote psychological resilience in preschool children.

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-03-31
• Primary completion: 2025-04-07
• Completion: 2025-05-12
• First posted: 2026-03-27
• Last updated: 2026-03-27

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Turkey (Türkiye)