Investigation of the Effectiveness of Virtual Training of Life Skills via Puppetry on Enhancing Social Competence and Managing Behavioral Challenges in Children

Background: Many families often encounter financial constraints and lack suitable resources to address the needs of children facing behavioral issues and deficient social skills. This research aimed to assess the efficacy of virtual life skills training delivered through puppet shows in augmenting social aptitude and mitigating behavioral problems in such children. Method: The training program consisted of ۳۰ sessions, employing indirect performance techniques and puppet shows. Participants were chosen from grades one through four, with five non-randomly selected individuals per grade, resulting in a total of ۲۰ participants, evenly distributed into control and experimental groups. The sessions took place in a non-government school called Chakad. To determine statistical significance, data from this study underwent multivariate covariance analysis using SPSS software. Results: The findings revealed that the experimental group demonstrated an increase in post-test scores compared to pre-test scores. The data suggests that virtual life skills training via puppet shows was effective in ameliorating children's social issues in the post-test (F=۸۴.۳۰۸, p<۰.۰۰۵). Additionally, the virtual training significantly reduced behavioral problems in children in the post-test (F=۴۲.۴۸۰, p<۰.۰۰۵). Conclusion: This research, by validating its hypotheses, affirms that virtual education presented through puppet shows has a positive and substantial impact on enhancing children's social competencies and mitigating their behavioral challenges.

Keywords:

Virtual Training , Life Skills , Social Skills , Behavioral problems , Children