Effects of Laughter Yoga and Finger Puppet Play in Preschool Children

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.

Inclusion criteria

• Children enrolled in the preschool of Sevgi-Ferit Akın Middle School during the 2024-2025 academic year.
• Children aged between 36 and 72 months.
• Children whose parents or legal guardians provide written informed consent to participate in the study.

Exclusion criteria

• Irregular attendance to intervention sessions.
• Failure to complete all intervention sessions.
• Withdrawal from the study by the child or parent/guardian's request.
• Presence of intellectual or hearing disabilities.
• Diagnosis of respiratory system diseases (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, dyspnea).
• Diagnosis of inguinal hernia or epilepsy.
• Having undergone abdominal surgery within the last 3-6 months.