Effectiveness of the promotion and prevention tool "Promoting preschooler's emotional competences (EMK-F)"

This study examined the effectiveness of the "Promoting preschooler's emotional competences (EMK-F)"concerning improvements in emotion knowledge, problem solving strategies and empathy. In addition, preschool teachers rated the EMK-F with regard to practicability and acceptance. Analytical procedures for examining the EMK-F are based on the data of 124 three- to six-year-olds (control group: n = 65) from nine kindergartens. Emotional competencies were assessed using the EMK 3-6 and vocabulary was measured with the SET 3 -5. Children in the intervention group showed a significant increase in the emotional knowledge compared to the untreated control group. Ratings of preschool teachers for the EMK-F were predominantly positive. Implications of the findings as well as methodological limitations of the study are discussed.