Socio-emotional Programme Promotes Positive Behaviour in Preschoolers

Abstract

This study evaluated an early childhood socio-emotional programme aimed at promoting preschooler's social skills and reducing behaviour problems. The Peace Education Foundation (PEF) socio-emotional development programme was provided in English and Spanish to preschool teachers, parents and children in Miami, Florida. The programme instructs teachers and parents how to use activities and “I-Care Rules and Language” to encourage empathy and fair play, express feelings, avoid conflict, manage anger and interact more positively with others. Teachers and parents of preschoolers participated in PEF's “Creating Caring Children” and “Peacemaking Skills for Little Kids” training. The Preschool and Kindergarten Behaviour Scale (PKBS-2) was used to assess 246 preschoolers' behaviour changes over time at preschools participating in the PEF programme, compared with 50 children from a matched group that did not receive the programme. Children's PKBS-2 scores showed increased social cooperation, more positive interaction quality and greater social independence, plus fewer Internalising and Externalising Problem Behaviours in PEF preschools versus controls. This study demonstrated the efficacy of the PEF model to promote positive socio-emotional development in children attending diverse, private preschools.