Utilisation of Play Therapy in Managing Emotional Difficulties of Children with Down Syndrome in Ondo State

This study examines the utilisation of play therapy in managing emotional difficulties of children with Down Syndrome in special education settings in Ondo State, South West Nigeria. Down Syndrome, caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21, is associated with intellectual disability, developmental delays, and a range of emotional and behavioural challenges. Play therapy, a structured therapeutic approach that uses play as a medium for children to express emotions and process experiences, has demonstrated efficacy in international literature but remains largely unexplored in Nigerian special education practice. The study adopts a quasi-experimental design, selecting forty children with Down Syndrome from two special education schools in Akure. Participants are randomly assigned to experimental and control groups, with the experimental group receiving directed play therapy sessions twice weekly over twelve weeks. Emotional functioning is assessed using the Devereux Student Strengths Assessment adapted for the Nigerian context. Data are analysed using independent samples t-tests and analysis of covariance. The study also gathers qualitative data from teachers on observed changes in children's classroom behaviour. Findings are expected to demonstrate measurable improvements in emotional regulation in the experimental group. Recommendations include training special education teachers in basic play therapy facilitation and equipping schools with dedicated therapy spaces. This study contributes to the under-researched area of non-pharmacological emotional interventions for children with chromosomal conditions in Nigeria. Keywords: play therapy, Down Syndrome, emotional difficulties, Ondo State, special education.