Abstract
Teacher and Therapist Perspectives on Feasibility and Effectiveness of Preschool Yoga Programs to Promote Motor & Social Skills
Pediatric physical therapy : the official journal of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association, Vol.26(1), pp.107-108
2014
Abstract
PURPOSE/HYPOTHESIS: The purpose of this study was to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of a preschool Yoga program designed to promote motor and social skills for pre-school aged children.
NUMBER OF SUBJECTS: Participants included teachers and staff from 2 inclusive classrooms from a pre-school program (N = 5); 2 pre-school teachers, 2 pre-school teachers assistants and 1 speech therapist.
MATERIALS/METHODS: Classroom teachers and assistants and the staff occupational therapist participated in a 6 week summer yoga program along with two integrated classrooms (Early Intervention and Head Start). A focus group for a naturalistic inquiry with guiding questions was conducted at the end of the yoga program. Interview questions were developed under the supervision of faculty as part of a final project for two DPT students, and reviewed by an experienced qualitative researcher faculty member. The focus group was audio taped for transcription. Two experienced raters performed open coding of transcripts. Qualitative methods were used to define codes and identify themes. Reliability was established between both investigators to develop the coding scheme for transcript analysis (Kappa > 85%).
RESULTS: Six different themes emerged around the feasibility and effectiveness of the yoga program. Themes included: Benefits of the yoga program for the children; Value of the yoga program; Pragmatic challenges (equipment and scheduling); Implementation challenges (human resources and support); Future planning (human factors) and; Future planning (for next iteration regarding scheduling and equipment).
CONCLUSIONS: Teachers and staff OT identified benefits and challenges for present and future implementation of a yoga program for pre-school aged children. All participants believed the yoga program to be beneficial for the children and the staff. Although logistical challenges for future implementation were identified, all participants felt that it would be feasible to run the program in the future.
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Group yoga programs for young children is seen by teachers and staff as an effective and feasible activity to promote motor activity and well being in the preschool setting.
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Details
- Title
- Teacher and Therapist Perspectives on Feasibility and Effectiveness of Preschool Yoga Programs to Promote Motor & Social Skills
- Creators
- Maria Benedetto - Drexel University, Physical Therapy (and Rehabilitation Sciences)M M O'Neil - Drexel UniversityR Ideishi - University of the SciencesS Ideishi
- Publication Details
- Pediatric physical therapy : the official journal of the Section on Pediatrics of the American Physical Therapy Association, Vol.26(1), pp.107-108
- Number of pages
- 2
- Resource Type
- Abstract
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Physical Therapy (and Rehabilitation Sciences)
- Identifiers
- 991021893406004721