Intervention Programs in Emotional Skills in Preschoolers

A Systematic Review

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18172/con.5970

Keywords:

Emotional development, Childhood, Early childhood education, Educational strategies, Schoolchildren

Abstract

Early social-emotional experiences are a key factor for early childhood development and later academic achievement in school. For this reason, in recent decades the number of publications on early childhood intervention programs has increased. This systematic review analyzed the programs on emotional skills in preschoolers in the period 2010-2020. The PsyArticles, Science Direct, Dialnet and academic google databases were searched using the PRISMA methodology (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses). Nine programs trained identification, expression and emotional regulation skills. Most programs reported a positive effect positive effect on the development of emotional skills from measures before and after the intervention, however, it is necessary to carry out studies that implement evaluation and follow-up measures to test whether the effects of the interventions are maintained over time. This evidence may be useful to researchers, teachers, and caregivers interested in social-emotional development.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Virgelina Castellanos-Páez, Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia

Psicóloga y Magister en educación, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia (UPTC). CAndidata a doctora en Psicología, de la Pontificia Universidad JAveriana, Cali, Colombia.

Docente del programa de psicología de la UPTC e investigadora del grupo Desarrollo Humano, Cognición y Educación de esta universidad. 

Daniela González Gamboa, Pedagogical and Technological University of Colombia

Psicóloga, Universidad Pedagógica y Tecnológica de Colombia.

Integrante del grupo de investigación Desarrollo Humano Cognición y Educación, del programa de Psicología.

Mercedes Janneth Vargas, Institución Educativa Jorge Clemente Palacios

Docente de educación básica primaria, Magister en educación de la Universidad Pedagógica y tecnológica de Colombia (UPTC). Miembro del grupo de investigación CACAENTA  de la UPTC.

References

Agnoli, S., Mancini, G., Pozzoli, T., Baldaro, B., Russo, P. M., y Surcinelli, P. (2012). The interaction between emotional intelligence and cognitive ability in predicting scholastic performance in school-aged children. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(5), 660-665. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.05.020

Alvarez, L. L. (2013). Desarrollo de estrategias para fortalecer la inteligencia emocional de los preescolares. [Tesis de Maestría, Universidad Pedagógica Nacional]. http://rixplora.upn.mx/jspui/handle/RIUPN/64512?mode=simple

Alwaely, S. A., Yousif, N. B. A. y Mikhaylov, A. (2020). Emotional development in preschoolers and socialization. Early Child Development and Care, 191(4), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1080/03004430.2020.1717480

Astorga, M. J., Orellana, A., Provoste, C. y Terreros, V. (2018). Estrategias para desarrollar las habilidades socio- emocionales a través de la literatura infantil, en niños y niñas de 4 a 5 años. [Tesis de Maestría, Universidad Andrés Bello]. https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/288917552.pdf

Astudillo, D. y Leppe, J. (2020). Oferta de programas para el desarrollo integral de la primera infancia en Chile: Revisión exploratoria. Revista chilena de pediatría, 91(4), 605-613. https://doi.org/10.32641/rchped.v91i4.1490

Barros, O. M. (2014). Impacto del uso de Estrategias didácticas para el fomento de la Inteligencia Emocional en el Desempeño Académico de preescolares con Problemas de Conducta. [Tesis de Maestría, Tecnológico de Monterrey]. https://repositorio.tec.mx/handle/11285/629998

Bailey, D., Duncan, G. J., Odgers, C. L. y Yu, W. (2017). Persistence and fadeout in the impacts of child and adolescent interventions. Journal of Research on Educational Effectiveness, 10, 7-39. https://doi.org/10.1080/19345747.2016.1232459

Benavides, M. T., Monesterolo, A. y Orbe, C. (2022). Desarrollo integral en la primera infancia: una aproximación al abordaje interdisciplinario. Revista PUCE, (115), 33-55. http://revistapuce.edu.ec/index.php/revpuce/article/view/486/387

Bierman, K., Heinrichs, B., Welsh, J. y Nix, R. (2021). Sustained benefits of a preschool home visiting program: Child outcomes in fifth grade. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, (56), 260-271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2021.03.017

Bleses, D., Jensen, P., Højen, A., Slot, P. y Justice, L. (2021). Implementing toddler interventions at scale: The case of “We learn together”. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, (57), 12-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2021.04.008

CASEL (2019). SEL 3 Signature Practices Playbook: A Tool that Supports Systemic SEL. https://casel.org/sel-3-signature-practices/

Celdrán, B. y García, F. (2012). Reconocimiento de emociones en niños de Educación Primaria: Eficacia de un programa educativo para reconocer emociones. Electronic Journal of Research in Educational Psychology, 10(3), 1321-1342. https://doi.org/10.25115/ejrep.v10i28.1536

Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University (2016). From Best Practices to Breakthrough Impacts: A Science-Based Approach to Building a More Promising Future for Young Children and Families. http://www.developingchild.harvard.edu

Cepa, A. (2015). Diseño, Aplicación y Evaluación del Programa “EMO-ACCIÓN” de Educación Emocional para Educación Infantil. [Doctoral Thesis, Universidad de Burgos]. https://investigacion.ubu.es/documentos/5db032a5299952180eb17299

Chan, R. F., Qiu, C. y Shum, K. K. (2021). Tuning in to kids: A randomized controlled trial of an emotion coaching parenting program for Chinese parents in Hong Kong. Developmental Psychology, 57(11), 1796-1809. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001258

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning. CASEL. Retrieved September 20, 2021. https://casel.org/

De Damas, M. y Gomariz V. M. (2020). La verbalización de las emociones en Educación Infantil. Evaluación de un Programa de Conciencia Emocional. Estudios sobre educación, (38), 270-302. https://doi.org/10.15581/004.38.279-302

Denham, S. A., Blair, K. A., DeMulder, E., Levitas, J., Sawyer, K., Auerbach-Major, S. y Queenan, P. (2003). Preschool emotional competence: Pathway to social competence? Child Development, 74, 238 –256. http://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00533

Ensor, R., Spencer, D. y Hughes, C. (2011). “You feel sad?” Emotion understanding mediates effects of verbal ability and mother– child mutuality on prosocial behaviors: Findings from 2 years to 4 years. Social Development, (20), 93-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-9507.2009.00572.x

Extremera, N., Mérida, S. y Sánchez, M. (2019). La importancia de la inteligencia emocional del profesorado en la misión educativa: impacto en el aula y recomendaciones de buenas prácticas para su entrenamiento. Voces De La Educación, 74-97. https://www.revista.vocesdelaeducacion.com.mx/index.php/voces/article/view/213

Fehr, K., FehrHoffmann, J., Fehr, D., y Ramasami, J. (2021). Feasibility of a group play intervention in early childhood. Journal of Creativity, 31, 2713-3745. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjoc.2021.100008

Fernández-Hawrylak, M., Heras-Sevilla, D., y Fernández-Hawrylak-Serrano, A. (2020). Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Emotional Education Program EMO-ACTION within a Preschool Setting. Estudios sobre educación, 39, 87-107. https://doi.org/10.15581/004.39.87-107

Flook, L., Goldberg, S. B., Pinger, L. y Davidson, R. J. (2015). Promoting prosocial behavior and self-regulatory skills in preschool children through a mindfulness-based kindness curriculum. Developmental Psychology, 51(1), 44-51. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038256

Gadaire, A. P., Armstrong, L. M., Cook, J. R., Kilmer, R. P., Larson, J. C., Simmons, C. J., Messinger, L. G., Thiery, T. L. y Babb, M. J. (2020). A Data-Guided Approach to Supporting Students’ Social-Emotional Development in PreK. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 91(2), 193-207. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000522

Gajardo Montecino, J. y Tilleria Muñoz, J. L. (2019). Inteligencia emocional: una clave para el éxito académico. Revista Reflexión E Investigación Educacional, 2(1), 93-106. https://revistas.ubiobio.cl/index.php/REINED/article/view/3860

Garner, P. W. y Waajid, B. (2012). Emotion knowledge and self-regulation as predictors of preschoolers’ cognitive ability, classroom behavior, and social competence. Journal of Psychoeducational Assessment, 30(4), 330-343. https://doi.org/10.1177/0734282912449441

Gobbo, C., Mega, C. y Pipe, M. E. (2002). Does the nature of theexperience influence suggestibility? A study of children’s event memory. Journal of Experimental Child Psychology, 81, 502-530. https://doi.org/10.1006/jecp.2002.2662

Gómez, L. (2017). Primera infancia y educación emocional. Revista Virtual Universidad Católica del Norte, (52) ,174-184. https://www.redalyc.org/articulo.oa?id=1942/194253828011

Gormley, W.T., Phillips, D.A., Newmark, K., Welti, K. y Adelstein, S. (2011). Social‐Emotional Effects of Early Childhood Education Programs in Tulsa. Child Development, (82), 2095-2109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2011.01648.x

Grimaldo Muchotrigo, M. y Merino-Soto, C. (2020). Efectos de un Programa de Intervención sobre las habilidades emocionales en niños preescolares. REOP - Revista Española de Orientación y Psicopedagogía, 31(1), 62-80. https://doi.org/10.5944/reop.vol.31.num.1.2020.27290

Hemmeter, M.L., Fox, L., Snyder, P., Hemmeter, J., Bishop, C., Hardy, J., y Veguilla, M. (2021). Corollary child outcomes from the Pyramid Model professional development intervention efficacy trial. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, (54), 204-218. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.08.004

Högström, J., Enebrink, P. y Ghaderi, A. (2013). The moderating role of child callous-unemotional traits in an Internet-based parent-management training program. Journal of Family Psychology, 27(2), 314-323. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031883

Imuta, K., Henry, J. D., Slaughter, V. y Ruffman, T. (2016). Theory of mind and prosocial behavior in childhood: Ameta-analytic review. Developmental Psychology, 52(8), 1192-1205. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0000140

Izard, C.E., King K.A., Trentacosta C.J., Morgan J.K., Laurenceau J.P., Krauthamer-Ewing E.S. y Finlon K.J. (2008). Accelerating the Development of Emotion Competence in Head Start Children: Effects on Adaptative and Maladaptative Behavior. Development and Psychopathology, 20(1), 369-397. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579408000175

Jucan, D. y Simion, A. (2015). Music Background in the Classroom: Its Role in the Development of Social-emotional Competence in Preschool Children. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, (180), 620-626. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.02.169

Kalland, M. y Linnavalli, T. (2023). Associations between social-emotional and language development in preschool children. Results from a study testing the rationale for an intervention. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 67(5), 791-804. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2022.2070926

LeBuffe, P. A., y Naglieri, J. A. (1999). Devereux early childhood as sessment: User’s guide. Kaplan Press.

Lutz, M. N., Fantuzzo, J., y McDermott, P. (2002). Multidimensional assessment of emotional and behavioral adjustment problems of low-income preschool children: Development and initial validation. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 17, 338-355. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0885-2006(02)00168-0

Malti, T., y Cheah, C. S. (2021). Toward complementarity: Specificity and commonality in social‐emotional development: Introduction to the special section. Child Development, 92(6), Artículo e1085-e1094. https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.13690

Márquez Cervantes, M.C. y Gaeta González, M.L. (2017). Desarrollo de competencias emocionales en preadolescentes: el papel de padres y docentes. Revista Electrónica Interuniversitaria de Formación del Profesorado, 20(2), 221-235. http://doi.org/10.6018/reifop.20.1.232941

Martikainen, S., Kalland, M., Linnavalli, T., Kostilainen, K., Aittokoski, M., Reunamo, J., ... y Tervaniemi, M. (2024). Supporting social-emotional development in early childhood education and care–a randomized parallel group trial evaluating the impact of two different interventions. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 68(5), 1069-1087. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313831.2023.2204119

McCloskey, G., Perkins, L. y Van Divner, B. (2009). Assessment and intervention for executive function difficulties. New York, NY: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.

Mendoza Salazar, M. G. (2019). Estrategias para favorecer las competencias afectivo-emocionales para el mejoramiento del ambiente áulico en el niño de preescolar II. [Tesis de Pregrado, Universidad Pedagógica Nacional]. http://rixplora.upn.mx/jspui/handle/RIUPN/80552

Ministerio de Educación Nacional (2017). Bases curriculares para la educación inicial y preescolar. Bogotá-Colombia.https://www.mineducacion.gov.co/1759/articles-341880_recurso_1.pdf

Moreno González, Y. C. (2018). Estrategias lúdicas para el fortalecimiento de competencias cuidadanas emocionales en educación preescolar: bases para el desarrollo de ciudadanía. [Tesis de Maestría, Corporación Universitaria Minuto de Dios]. https://repository.uniminuto.edu/handle/10656/7282

Moreno, E. y Rodríguez, I. (2017). Altas capacidades intelectuales y habilidades emocionales en educación infantil. Estudio de un caso para el diseño de una intervención psicoeducativa. Publicaciones Didácticas, (85), 593-619. https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/685c/02f47a2d7c696d581ee93e48f842ac9d0113.pdf

Murano, D., Sawyer, J. E. y Lipnevich, A. A. (2020). A meta-analytic review of preschool social and emotional learning interventions. Review of Educational Research, 90(2), 227-263. 3. https://doi.org/10.3102/0034654320914743

Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrowe, C. D., Shamseerf, L., Tetzlaffg, J. M., Aklh, E., Brennana, S.E., Choui, R., Glanvillej, J., Grimshawk, J. M., Hrobjartsson, A., Lalum, M.M., Lin, T., Lodero, E.W., Mayo-Wilsonp, E., McDonald, S.,… Alonso-Fernández, S. (2021). Declaración PRISMA 2020: una guía actualizada para la publicación de revisiones sistemáticas. Revista Española de Cardiología, 74(9), 790-799. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.recesp.2021.06.016

Salmon, K., Dittman, C., Sanders, M., Burson, R. y Hammington, J. (2014). Does adding an emotion component enhance the Triple P−Positive Parenting Program? Journal of Family Psychology, 28(2), 244-252. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0035997

Sánchez-López, M. T., Fernández-Berrocal, P., Gómez-Leal, R. y Megías-Robles, A. (2022). Emotional Intelligence and Risk Behaviour: A Risk Domain-Dependent Relationship. Psicothema, 34(3), 402-409. https://doi.org/10.7334/psicothema2021.527

Suberviola, I. (2020). Aspectos básicos sobre el concepto y puesta en práctica de la coeducación emocional. Foro de Educación, 18(1), 189-207. http://doi.org/10.14516/fde.682

Ștefan, C.A. y Miclea, M. (2015). Effects of an indicated prevention program for preschoolers: a single-subject design approach. European Journal of Psychology of Education, (30), 473–499. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-015-0253-x

Strand, P. S., Barbosa-Leiker, C., Piedra, M. A. y Downs, A. (2015). Exploring the bidirectionality of emotion understanding and classroom behavior with Spanish- and English-speaking preschoolers attending Head Start. Social Development, 24, 579-600. http://doi.org/10.1111/sode.12111

Todor, O. (2015). Research on the Usefulness of Feuerstein Method in Educating the Sociability of Children aged Between 3 and 7 (Preschool Children). Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, (180), 1692-1697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.05.071

UNESCO (2015). Education 2030: Incheon Declaration and Framework for Action towards inclusive and equitable quality education and lifelong learning for all. UNESCO. https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000245656

UNICEF (2018). Early Moments Matter for Every Child. United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). https://www.unicef.org/reports/early-moments-matter

Wan, Y. y Zhu, L. (2021). Effects of rhythmic turn-taking coordination on five-year-old children’s prosocial behaviors. Developmental Psychology, 57(11), 1787-1795. https://doi.org/10.1037/dev0001244

Yazejian, N., Yazejian, D. M., Kuhn, L. J., Burchinal, M., Horm, D., Hans, S., File, N., y Jackson, B. (2020). The Educare intervention: Outcomes at age 3. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, (53), 425-440. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2020.05.008

Zhang S., Shen Y., Xin T., Sun H, Wang Y., Zhang X., et al. (2021) The development and validation of a social media fatigue scale: From a cognitive-behavioral-emotional perspective. PLoS ONE 16(1), Artículo e0245464. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245464

Zelazo, P., Carlson, S. y Kesek, A. (2008). The development of executive function in childhood. Handbook of developmental cognitive neuroscience (2nd) edCambridge, MA: MIT Press, 553-574.

Published

2025-10-31

How to Cite

Castellanos-Páez, V., González Gamboa, D., & Vargas, M. J. (2025). Intervention Programs in Emotional Skills in Preschoolers: A Systematic Review. Contextos Educativos. Revista De Educación, (36), 97–124. https://doi.org/10.18172/con.5970

Issue

Section

Research, Review and Discussant Articles