• Ms. Ashvinee Krupasagar Janbandhu
• Dr. Meena Pagarwar

ABSTRACT: Introduction: Hospitalization causes significant anxiety in preschool children due to separation, unfamiliar environments, and medical procedures. Therapeutic play is a non-pharmacological intervention that helps children cope, with clay therapy offering sensory expression and puzzle therapy providing cognitive distraction. Objectives: 1.To assess the level of anxiety among preschooler children in selected hospital at baseline. 2.To evaluate the effectiveness of clay therapy on level of anxiety among preschooler children in selected hospital. 3.To evaluate the effectiveness of puzzle therapy on level of anxiety among preschooler children in selected hospital. 4.To compare the effectiveness of Clay therapy versus Puzzle therapy in reducing anxiety among preschooler children in selected hospital. 5.To find association of study finding with selected demographic variables. Methodology: A quantitative Two Parallel arm intervention study design was conducted among 50 hospitalized preschool children (3–6 years) selected through convenience sampling. Participants received clay or puzzle therapy for three consecutive days. Anxiety was measured using the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale before and after intervention. Results: Both therapies significantly reduced anxiety, with greater reduction in the clay therapy group. Significant associations were found with demographic variables. Conclusion: Clay therapy is comparatively more effective, and therapeutic play should be integrated into pediatric nursing care. Recommendations: Further studies with larger samples and randomized designs are recommended.

Keywords: Preschool children, hospitalization anxiety, therapeutic play, clay therapy, puzzle therapy, pediatric nursing.

"“A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLAY THERAPY VERSUS PUZZLE THERAPY IN REDUCING ANXIETY AMONG PRESCHOOLER CHILDREN IN SELECTED HOSPITAL.”", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 10, page no.c443-c448, October-2026, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2610248.pdf

"“A COMPARATIVE STUDY TO EVALUATE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF CLAY THERAPY VERSUS PUZZLE THERAPY IN REDUCING ANXIETY AMONG PRESCHOOLER CHILDREN IN SELECTED HOSPITAL.”", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.13, Issue 10, page no. ppc443-c448, October-2026, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2610248.pdf