Early detection - Early intervention
- a longitudinal study of children’s engagement and behavior problems in Swedish preschool environments; Preschool environments, young children's engagement, behavior problems and learning in early school years
Preschool is an environment where behavior problems in children frequently are identified. It is also known that a high quality preschool environment can support good functioning and health in children and protect children from behavior problems. One way to operationalize health and functioning for preschool children is children’s positive engagement in preschool activities. The aim of this study is twofold. First to test and use a questionnaire aimed at identifying children 1-5 years old with behavior problems. Second to identify factors that over a two year period influence children’s engagement in preschool. Investigated factors concern both child characteristics and characteristics in the preschool environment.
Preschools where children are positively engaged in everyday situations contribute to children’s mental health and learning in school. Behavioral problems can be a barrier for the time children spend positively engaged, while teachers' responsiveness promote this engagement. The aim of the project is to study the relation between factors in the preschool environment, children's engagement, behavior problems in preschool and academic achievement in third grade. The study is a continuation of the research project "Early detection - early intervention" and builds on previously collected questionnaire data and new observational data of preschool staff’s behavior and children's engagement. Children from two communities will be followed up in third grade to investigate the influence of factors in the preschool environment on subsequent achievement.
Contact person: Madeleine Sjöman
