assessment of mothers knowledge regarding importance of play in children less than five years in elmesiaktab algouz village in shendi 2016
Play is important to child development. Children learn about the world through play. This study was descriptive cross-sectional community-based research done to assess mothers knowledge regarding importance of play in children less than five years in Elmesiaktab Algouz village in period extended from August to December 2016. 162 mothers were selected randomly by equation, data was collected by questioner filled by mothers, analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS), and presented in form of tables and figure. The study reflected that, more than half (52%) study group had poor knowledge about importance of play, more than two third of them (68%) had poor knowledge about Characteristics of safe toy, it was concluded that more than half (62%) study group had poor knowledge about role of adult in play. Study showed that above third (34%) of study group chose environmental factor effect of play and significant relationship between level of education and knowledge about behavioral, emotional benefited. It was recommended that to Encourage heath education in community by mass media and filed tribe, health workers should provide knowledge mother about play therapy and Further studies should be done in effect of play on development in children to increase mother knowledge about importance of play. (Author's abstract)