Preschool educators' readiness to promote children's emotional competence
File version
Version of Record (VoR)
Author(s)
Klieve, H
Exley, B
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract
The development of children's emotional competence (EC) throughout the preschool period is critical for supporting their future social competence, transition to school and long-term academic success. This paper reports on survey responses of 78 Australian preschool educators to the scale Preschool Educators' Readiness for Promoting Children's Emotional Competence modified from Bouillet, Ivanec & Miljevic-Ridicki (2014) and a short open response section. This scale sought the views of educators regarding aspects such as their competence, willingness to promote children's emotional competence and the influence of institutional environment and conditions, with response variations explored across different locations, centre type and also respondent age. While responses indicated strong agreement regarding ability to successfully conduct activities to promote emotional competence and also respondent's prioritization of activities for emotional competence before cognitive skills, there also were differences observed across respondents. For example, almost half responded that they were not adequately prepared by their undergraduate education to promote emotional competence. A small number of open responses were supplied (n=24). Given the small sample, these were used as additional evidence to support and explain the findings from the quantitative analysis. Overall findings highlight the need for strategies to support these educators. These include additional information and practical strategies within undergraduate training, the development of a shared language that defines these issues, ongoing professional development in their workplaces and a greater availability of practical strategies and programs to support them in delivering this important role.
Journal Title
Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
14
Issue
2
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
© 2020 PECERA. The attached file is reproduced here in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher. Please refer to the journal's website for access to the definitive, published version.
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Early childhood education
Teacher and student wellbeing
Education systems
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Somerwil, T; Klieve, H; Exley, B, Preschool educators' readiness to promote children's emotional competence, Asia-Pacific Journal of Research in Early Childhood Education, 2020, 14 (2), pp. 135-158