Short Research Report: The effect of traditional play on the emotional intelligence, social ability, and self-esteem of children in Korean child welfare centers: A mixed-methods study

Abstract

This mixed-methods study investigated the effects of a traditional play program (TPP) on 48 children’s emotional intelligence (EQ), social ability (SA), and self-esteem (SE), important skills for children’s overall well-being and development. The participants were recruited from two child welfare centers (CCs) and divided into experimental and control groups. The experimental group participated in a 13-week, biweekly 40-minute TPP designed to improve these skills. The analysis revealed TPP’s efficacy in improving EQ, SA, and SE, with consequent implications for child welfare centers’ interventions. Future research should focus on understanding underlying mechanisms and generalizability to other groups. keywords: traditional play, emotional intelligence, social competence, self-esteem, child welfare centers, South Korea