The Application of Jump-Rope Play Therapy in a School-Aged Child with Excessive Gadget Use: A Case Study

Introduction: Excessive gadget use among school-aged children may interfere with opportunities for physical activity, social interaction, and participation in age-appropriate recreational activities. Structured traditional play, such as jump-rope activities, may provide an alternative to screen-based entertainment while encouraging physical movement and peer interaction. Objective: This study aimed to describe the application of jump-rope play therapy as a nursing intervention for a school-aged child with excessive gadget use. Method: A descriptive case study design was employed using a nursing care approach over three days. The nursing process included assessment, nursing diagnosis, intervention planning, implementation, and evaluation. Jump-rope play therapy was introduced as a structured recreational activity to encourage physical activity and social engagement. Data were collected through interviews with the child and family, behavioral observations, and nursing care evaluations, focusing on gadget-use patterns, physical activity, and social interaction. Result: Following the three-day intervention, positive behavioral changes were reported and observed, including greater participation in physical play, increased interaction with peers, improved cooperation during activities, and reduced gadget use. Family involvement in establishing appropriate screen-use boundaries and encouraging alternative recreational activities was also identified as an important component of the nursing intervention. However, these findings were based on observations from a single case and were not supported by standardized quantitative measurements. Conclusion: Jump-rope play therapy may serve as a supportive nursing activity to encourage physical movement and social interaction among school-aged children with excessive gadget use. Nevertheless, the findings should be interpreted cautiously because of the single-case design and short intervention period. Further studies using systematic outcome measurements, longer intervention periods, and larger samples are needed to evaluate its potential benefits