title: [Play therapy in social work with children].
abstract: This article introduces the results of scientific research performed in 1995-1997 in Kaunas primary school with 1st and 2nd grade children exhibiting behavioral disorders. Play therapy, a quite novel method in the country, seeks better improvement and an achievement of a better relationship for disadvantaged children in educational process. Play group counseling, or play media counseling, is shown as an important method in working with early primary grade children, especially those who present behavioral problems in the classroom. Another important aspect of group play therapy is the concentrated relationship with the counselor. Primary school children, especially those who are disadvantaged respond more to warmth than to praise for being right and doing well. Data analysis allow us to assume that behavioral difficulties of primary school children are connected with a low rate of self-esteem and dissatisfaction with their vital activities. Main conclusions to correspond with hypothesis held for the research are: a) children exhibiting behavioral problems are less active in educational process; b) by means of systematic use of play group counseling method in school, problematic children are able to solve their difficulties and to optimize their academic improvement; c) there is a complementary relationship between child's self-esteem and his/her satisfaction with his/her vital activity.
authors.affiliation: VDU Socialinio darbo institutas, K. Donelaicio 52-417, 3000 Kaunas. dziugas_dvarionas@fc.vdu.lt
authors.forename: Dziugas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dvarionas
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D010989:Play Therapy; D012947:Social Work