This study takes the form of intervention research in which parental guidelines to enhance emotional intelligence among children in middle childhood are developed from a Gestalt perspective. The researcher makes use of Rothman and Thomas’ (1994) Design and Development model and therefore follows phases of problem analysis and project planning, information gathering and synthesis, design, and early development in order to facilitate the research process. Guidelines deal with needs highlighted by parents (with children in middle childhood) who participated in the empirical enquiry. The researcher draws upon literature relating to emotional intelligence and parenting, Gestalt philosophy, and functional elements of relevant, existing programmes in the pursuit of addressing identified concerns. Phases of evaluation and advanced development, and dissemination are not addressed within the limited scope of this project. The possibility of exploring these final two phases of the design and development model therefore provides opportunity for future work. / Play Therapy / Thesis (M. Diac. (Play Therapy))

This study takes the form of intervention research in which parental guidelines to enhance emotional intelligence among children in middle childhood are developed from a Gestalt perspective. The researcher makes use of Rothman and Thomas’ (1994) Design and Development model and therefore follows phases of problem analysis and project planning, information gathering and synthesis, design, and early development in order to facilitate the research process. Guidelines deal with needs highlighted by parents (with children in middle childhood) who participated in the empirical enquiry. The researcher draws upon literature relating to emotional intelligence and parenting, Gestalt philosophy, and functional elements of relevant, existing programmes in the pursuit of addressing identified concerns. Phases of evaluation and advanced development, and dissemination are not addressed within the limited scope of this project. The possibility of exploring these final two phases of the design and development model therefore provides opportunity for future work. / Play Therapy / Thesis (M. Diac. (Play Therapy))