Parents and Teachers’ Perceptions of Group Theraplay Participation in the Classroom of Children with Developmental Delays Integrated into the General Classrooms

Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the perceptions of parents and teachers regarding their experiences of participating in group theraplay in the classroom of children with developmental delays integrated into general classes.Methods: This group theraplay targeted children with developmental delays, and included 42 sessions of 30 minutes each, conducted twice a week for a total of 21 weeks from May 9 to October 6, 2022, excluding one week of summer vacation. A communication process to examine the flow of consciousness between parents and teachers was conducted. Verbal speech contents during interviews and reflective journals were collected as research data.Results: Our analysis revealed the following themes: “Entering the world of change in a disconnected relationship,” “The sprouting of change in self -representation,” “Recreating relationship patterns through modification of object representations,” and “Moving toward relationship orientation through selfgrowth.”Conclusion: The significance of the study lies in the fact that we were able to discern the possibility of applying conscious change to unconscious representations, based on reflection and insight in parents and teachers toward performing their roles as good subjects.