Effectiveness of the ELLA Training for the Promotion of Emotional and Social Competences in Lithuanian Preschool Children

By developing the emotional and social competences of children of preschool age, one can expect the prevention of emotional and behavioral problems and a better social and academic adaptation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the ELLA training for the promotion of emotional and social competences in 3–6-year-old children in preschool education institutions in Lithuania. In total, 140 children aged 3–6 years participated in the quasi-experimental study, of which 86 children were assigned to the experimental group and 54 were assigned to the control group. Children of the experimental group were given a modified program—the ELLA training for the promotion of emotional and social competences. Children’s emotional and social competences were assessed before and after the program. The EMK 3–6 inventory (germ. Inventar zur Erfassung Emotionaler Kompetenzen bei Drei-bis Sechsjährigen, EMK 3–6) was used to conduct a questionnaire survey of teachers and to carry out an individual assessment performed by psychologists in order to assess the children’s competences. The ELLA training significantly improved children’s emotional and social competences. Based on the teachers’ assessment, the children’s self-regulation abilities improved, and based on the children’s individual assessment conducted by psychologists, the application of the program resulted in the improvement of the children’s primary emotions, secondary emotions, and prosocial behavior competences.