Influence of the early prevention programme “zippy’s friends” on self development of children’s social competence and establishment of safe emotional environment in educational institutions

Abstract

The article theoretically substantiates the purpose of programmes of early prevention to develop children’s social and coping skills, presents the concept of coping with challenges, strategies for overcoming difficulties, which are applied by children, as well as structure, which predetermines efficiency of early prevention programmes. Seeking the analysis of the impact of the programme ‘Zippy’s Friends’ on self-development of children’s social competence and creation of safe emotional environment in educational institutions, the research of several stages is presented: a) content analysis of the Lithuanian Pre-primary Education Curriculum and the programme ‘Zippy’s Friends’, which highlighted the specific contribution of the latter programme to children’s social competence; b) generalisation of the results of the research in the impact of the programme ‘Zippy’s Friends’ on development of children’s social competence; c) identification of the impact of the programme ‘Zippy’s Friends’ on creation of safe emotional environment in an educational institution.