Evaluation of social and emotional learning program Zippy’s Friends

Česká verzia

Authors: Nováková Dorota; Bražinová Alexandra
Authors place of work: Ústav epidemiológie, Lekárska fakulta Univerzity Komenského v Bratislave
Published in the journal: Čes-slov Pediat 2023; 78 (4): 224-230.
Category: Original Papers
doi: https://doi.org/10.55095/CSPediatrie2023/039

Summary

Introduction: Emotional intelligence is an important part of mental health. It is represented by the ability to accurately perceive, evaluate, express and process emotions, as well as the capacity to use feelings for intellectual growth. Children can learn these skills in social and emotional learning programs, such as the international program Zippy’s Friends, which is implemented also in Slovakia and Czechia. With Zippy’s Friends, children learn to process feelings, communicate, establish and maintain friendships, resolve conflicts, manage stressful situations, and develop empathy.

Objective: To implement systematic scientific evaluation of the Zippy’s Friends program in primary schools in the Slovak Republic in children aged six to eight years.

Methods: The program Zippy’s Friends was evaluated using two approaches. The first included almost 400 pupils from the 1st and 2nd grade of fourteen primary schools from all Slovak regions. The evaluation was based on the “Draw and Write” technique. The second approach included 128 pupils from the 1st and 2nd grade of five elementary schools, a standardized questionnaire was used for evaluation of each child. Data collection took place from September 2019 to November 2022.

Results: When comparing the outcomes from before the beginning and after the end of the program, the participating children show a shift from an emphasis on material values to greater empathy and a richer inner experience After the end of the program, children place more emphasis on the health of others, relationships with peers, and are more able to solve situations, cooperate, appreciate and help others.

Conclusion: Social and emotional learning programs help to promote overall mental health and healthy development of children.

Keywords:

evaluation – mental health of children – social and emotional skills – SEL – Zippy’s Friends

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