Browsing by Author "Vainio, Emmi"

The aim of this Bachelor's thesis was to examine preschool teachers' experiences of implementing emotional education. This research examined how implementing emotional education appears in preschool teachers' profession, what methods preschool teachers have used to implement emotional education and what challenges they have met. The aim of this study is to increase knowledge of the importance of processing emotions with children. Former studies have pointed out that emotional skills have an influence on child's growth and social interaction. The research data consists of three individual interviews. The interviews were conducted in the kindergarten in January of 2019. Preschool teachers worked in the same southern Finnish kindergarten. All the interviewees had at least ten years of work experience as kindergarten teachers. The data was transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. The study found that preschool teachers linked emotional education as a comprehensive part of the workday. They viewed that it is important to notice children as individuals. The teachers experienced that emotional education was connected with recognizing and handling emotions. Emotional education was also seen as a part of supporting the development of child's self-esteem. The study found that being present is a significant part of emotional education and teachers should also be conscious of their own emotions. The preschool teachers viewed their emotional education skills as good and their unit was supporting them. Emotional education was viewed to be more important in teacher's work nowadays than before. Emotional education was included especially in creative activity like drama, music and play. The teachers had also used different tools, like emotional education models but also self-made tools. The challenges that had rised concerning emotional education were in childrens' different needs and family backgrounds, like different home cultures. The preschool teachers also longed for more authenticity in emotional education. The results point out that preschool teachers view emotional education as important and supportive for child's growth.