WESTON, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Beginnings School, the leading early education day school based in Weston, MA for children between the ages of three months and six years, is pleased to announce it is launching a pioneering longitudinal study to examine the process of the development of emotional intelligence in children – a critical component in attaining academic, social and personal success.
The study, which coincides with the 25th anniversary of the founding of Beginnings School, will begin by focusing on two-year-old toddlers and how they express, understand and manage their emotions. By conducting first-hand research through observation and video, capturing the toddlers’ emotional language and natural emotional communications, Beginnings School aims to equip early childhood education centers with a better understanding of the development of emotional competencies in young children. Once the study is completed with two-year-olds, other age groups will be evaluated including three-, four- and five-year-olds.
“We are very enthusiastic about this groundbreaking study and believe that its findings will impact curriculums of early education centers and help advance the field of early childhood education and development,” says Dr. Donna Housman, founder and executive director of Beginnings School.
“At Beginnings we believe that how children learn is as important as what they learn,” notes Dr. Housman. “Our lessons focus on personal interactions and teaching children the emotional and social skills needed in managing and understanding their own emotions and those of others. Over the last 25 years, we’ve received overwhelmingly positive feedback from alumni parents and schools which Beginnings children have since attended that the children are exceptionally confident, resilient and successful in their interpersonal relationships, academic achievement and leadership skills. Our focus on developing such skills early and the continued success of our students uniquely positions us to lead this study.”
The study’s focus will be on events in the classroom during which children are unable to manage the intensity of their emotions, both in excitement and distress phases. The context and course of such events will be documented, as well as how the child feels once the event has passed. Additionally, the study will observe how teachers intervene during such events in order to examine a possible connection between these interventions and the impact on the development of emotional regulation in young children.
The study has attracted the attention and collaboration of Dr. Gerald Stechler, Professor of Psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine, and Dr. Susanne Denham, Director of Applied Developmental Psychology at George Mason University.
Drs. Stechler and Denham note, “With this research project we expect to gain new knowledge and insight that will lead to applications that can influence and improve educational practice in early childhood education.”
The study will commence at Beginnings School in October, and more information will be posted as applicable on the Beginnings website at www.beginningsschool.com.
About Beginnings School
Founded in 1985, Beginnings School provides a vibrant place where young children learn and grow in a safe and nurturing environment. For 25 years, Beginnings staff has created warm and welcoming indoor and outdoor spaces for children to experience and explore. The school incorporates the principles of child development and early childhood education in its curriculum, encouraging each child to develop their individuality, creative spirit and social and emotional skills as well as a sense of wonder, natural curiosity and a love of language. Offerings at Beginnings are developed to meet the needs of today’s families, and support and resources are available to parents at every stage of their child's development. Beginnings School focuses on early childhood years, offering infant and toddler, pre-school, junior kindergarten, and senior kindergarten programs for children aged 3 months to 6+ years, as well as after school activities, summer camp, and a Spanish-immersion curriculum. Additional information can be found about Beginnings School at www.beginningsschool.com.