Author: Malak Mukhlef Alqaydhi
Alqaydhi, Malak Mukhlef, 2019 The emotional and behavioural functioning of children in early childhood engaged in a social and emotional learning program with a specific focus on self-control, Flinders University, College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
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Some pre-school children are unable to control their behaviour and emotions and self-control is an important part of social and emotional learning. This study examined the impact of a social-emotional learning program on the emotional and behavioural functioning of pre-school children, with a specific focus on self-control. The study used a mixed research design. Qualitative data was collected using observations of the behavioural functioning of the participants, while quantitative data was based on a quasi-experimental, within group, pre/post-test design. The quantitative approach involved an assessment of children’s social and emotional levels, using a behavioural and emotional screening tool (BASC-3 BESS) prior to and after the intervention program. A classroom intervention was conducted by the researcher in the Arabic language and comprised three sequences of intentional teaching episodes. The sample consisted of 30 Arabic children aged 4-5 years. The results showed that teaching self-control skills through the social-emotional learning program significantly improved the classroom emotional and behavioural functioning of the participants. Additionally, the study found that the teaching of self-control skills through the SEL program greatly impacted upon participants externalising and adaptive behaviours, although there was no significant difference in internalising behaviours of the study participants. It was recommended that pre-school teachers need to be trained to be more aware of the behavioural problems of pre-school children. As part of this teacher training, it is highly recommended that preschool teachers are trained to implement this intervention as part of their response to some behavioural problems of their preschool children.
Keywords: Self-control, Pre-school children, externalising, internalising and adaptive behaviour
Subject: Education thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2019
School: College of Education, Psychology and Social Work
Supervisor: Grace Skrzypiec