A randomized controlled trial of an emotion socialization intervention in Norwegian kindergartens

The study assessed the effect of the intervention Tuning in to Kids for Kindergarten Teachers (TIK-KT) in Norwegian kindergartens. The purpose was to investigate how training in emotional socialisation practices affected the work of kindergarten staff, the emotional climate in kindergarten and child behaviour. Emotional socialisation practices refer to how employees support children in understanding and regulating their emotions. The research questions are: 1) Did the intervention improve employee emotional socialisation practices? 2) Did the intervention improve emotional support in kindergarten? 3) Did the intervention have a positive effect on children’s behaviour?

The results showed that kindergarten employees in the intervention group reported significant improvements in the way they dealt with the children’s emotions. They used less dismissive strategies and distraction, and more emotional guidance that helped the children understand and regulate their own emotions. Observations showed that the kindergartens in the intervention group had a better emotional climate, with more positive interaction, increased sensitivity from the employees and better guidance regarding the children’s behaviour compared to the control group. Although parents did not report any noticeable changes in their children’s behaviour, researchers believe that this may have been affected by low baseline values at the start of the study and challenges related to the pandemic. In general, they believed the results support the use of TIK-KT as a tool to improve emotional quality in kindergartens.

548 employees and managers from 49 Norwegian kindergartens (with children aged 1 to 5 years) were divided into groups for intervention or control. The managers of the intervention kindergartens participated in a two-day TIK-KT course, while the other employees received one day of training to learn skills in emotional socialisation practices. Afterwards, employees received training in how to use emotional guidance with the children. The investigation included questionnaires for both employees and parents, as well as observations in kindergartens, conducted at the start of the study and again after 10 months.

Havighurst, S. S., Edvoll, M., Tidemann, I., Bølstad, E., Holme, H., Hansen, M. B., Eikseth, H. C., & Nygaard, E. (2024). A randomized controlled trial of an emotion socialization intervention in Norwegian kindergartens. Early education and development, 35(3), 454–475.

Online year: 2023

Issue year: 2024

Review year: 2023