Effectiveness of play therapy on motor skills and visual-motor integration of toddlers with preterm birth

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of play therapy on motor skills and visual-motor integration of children aged 2 to 4 years of age with preterm birth. This study was an experimental research with pre-test, post-test control group design. The statistical population consisted of children aged 2 to 4 years old with a preterm birth in Amol, Iran. The sample of this study, who were qualified according to inclusion criteria, included 20 children who were selected by available sampling method and then randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. The experimental group (n=10) participated in 24 sessions (8 weeks, 3 sessions per week for one hour) of play therapy, while the control group (n=10) did not participate in the intervention. Study tools included Peabody Development Motor Scales (Folio & Fewell, 2000) and Test of Visual-Motor Integration (Beery, Buktenica & Beery, 2010). Data were analyzed using analysis of covariance; ANCOVA. Results of two separate tests of covariance analysis showed that the experimental group had better scores in total motor quotient (P