ABSTRACT

Age-appropriate screening for preschool children is important for early detection of developmental delays. Emotional and social competencies have been established as predictors of mental health, as well as school readiness. We developed two screening scales, for parents and teachers corresponding to three age groups: 2.5-4 years-old, 4-5 years-old, and 5-7.5 years-old respectively. Approximately 150 children from each age group took part in this study. The statistical analysis showed that the internal consistency (α-Cronbach) was high with values over 0.80. Likewise, the test-retest coefficients (after 3 months) indicated values over 0.70. For the assessment of the content validity we correlated the screening scores with Social Skills Rating System (SSRS). We also established the concurrent and predictive validity with measurements of behavior problems (internalizing and externalizing disorders) and school performance. All the above mentioned data show that these screening scales are relevant for predicting children�s mental health problems and school readiness.

KEYWORDS: screening, preschool, emotional and social competence, school readiness, behavior problems.

PAGES: 121-146