Abstract:
Play is a universal language of children .It is one of the important forms of communication and can be effective technique in relating to them .Playing is a natural and enjoyable way for children to keep active ,stay well and be happy .Freely chosen play helps children for healthy development .Physical play such as running ,skipping and riding a bicycle helps children develop: good physical fitness, agility ,stamina ,co-ordination ,balance .This study was conducted to assess and compare knowledge of primigravida mothers of early childhood children regarding importance of Physical play in child development .
Objective -1. To assess the knowledge of rural and urban primigravida mothers regarding importance of physical play in development of their children .2. To compare the Play knowledge of rural and urban Primigravida mothers of early childhood children regarding importance of physical play in development .3. To find out the association between the knowledge of rural and urban primigravida mothers regarding importance of physical play in development of their children with selected demographic variables.
Methods
A comparative survey design was adopted for the study .Samples were selected using non probability convenient sampling technique ;samples consist of 60 primigravida mothers of early childhood children out of which 30 from rural and 30 from urban area of pune city .Data from the study participants was collected by structured knowledge questionnaire on importance of play in Growth and development .Data collected was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics .
Results :Finding was the study revealed that majority 55% of the rural mothers and 30% of the urban mothers had moderate knowledge while 62.5% urban mothers and 30% of the rural mothers had adequate knowledge regarding the importance of play in development of early childhood children .The total difference in the mean of the overall knowledge score was 3.32 with the’ t’ value of 3.341 and found to be significance at the level of p 0.05 and P less than 0.01 .
Conclusion-From the study findings ,it is understood that the findings ,it is understood that the .The samples had moderate knowledge regarding the importance of play in Growth and development of children .The knowledge and development level of mothers increase with the age ,education status ,family income .Hence the study emphasizes more responsibility on health care professionals especially nurses in empowering the mothers of early childhood children regarding the importance of play in Growth and development .
