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Mental health and developmental challenges that emerge in early childhood can be associated with difficulty in social interactions and behavioural regulation. With educational policies increasingly promoting inclusion in early learning settings, educators are being called upon to support children's social-emotional competence through evidence-informed practice. A narrative review was undertaken to explore the breadth and summarize research findings related to educator-led Tier 3 social and emotional learning intervention for children with diagnosed mental health conditions or developmental delays. Nineteen evaluation studies were reviewed and synthesized into four themes: (1) instruction embedded into daily routines and activities; (2) direct skill instruction; (3) peer-mediated interventions; and (4) individualized assessment-based approaches. Interventions targeted children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and developmental, social and communication delays, with findings suggesting improvement in children's social skill during or post intervention. Evidence of maintenance and generalization were, however, inconsistent. There is a paucity of peer-reviewed research examining interventions for young children experiencing anxiety or mood disorders.

A growing body of research evidence suggests universal (Tier 1) Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) interventions in early childhood education and care settings can improve children's social and emotional development. Less is known however about the effectiveness of targeted (Tier 2) programmes for preschoolers experiencing social, emotional or behavioural challenges. A systematic literature review was conducted to examine the outcomes associated with targeted (Tier 2) SEL interventions; 19 studies were captured in the review. Findings revealed that while evidence for targeted SEL programming is still emerging, it may offer a promising early intervention approach to strengthen aspects of children's social and behavioural functioning. Based on the evidence reviewed, the impact of targeted SEL intervention on emotional competencies could not be established. Programmes were predominately directed to preschoolers with externalizing problems and there appears to be a dearth of approaches focused on internalizing behaviour. Implications for practice and research are discussed.

Supporting parent-child relationships is vital for children's social and emotional development, future health and well-being. As children now spend significant amounts of time attending early childhood education and care settings, it is opportune that interventions be designed for educators to promote and nurture parent-child relationships. The aim of the current paper was to describe the systematic development of the Educator-Parent-Child Relationship (E-PCR) programme using six steps of the Intervention Mapping protocol. The results of a needs assessment lead to development of the Building Educator Knowledge (BEK) framework, logic model and matrices for programme, performance and change objectives. Theory-based methods and practical strategies were identified to develop intervention materials at three socio-ecological levels: (i) individual, (ii) interpersonal and (iii) organizational. Future evaluations will assess the implementation and effectiveness of the E-PCR programme.

Building strong relationships between children and parents is vital for children's social and emotional development. A majority of children attend early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings where they experience a range of relationships (educator-child, educator-parent, parent-child). Educators build relationships with children and parents, yet their influence on parent-child relationships is not well understood. Therefore, an evaluation of interventions/programs designed to promote parent-child relationships in ECEC settings (long day care, occasional care and preschool) and a range of settings (play groups, community groups and health centres) was conducted. The search revealed 21 peer-reviewed studies and seven interventions: two conducted in ECEC settings and five in a range of parent-child support settings. All studies reported intervention efficacy, yet none examined educators' influence on parent-child relationships. Investigation into current educator practices is recommended to ensure educators are supported to promote and nurture parent-child relationships, consequently strengthening children's social and emotional development.

We sought to evaluate the feasibility of conducting a randomized trial to evaluate the efficacy of a preschool/kindergarten curriculum intervention designed to increase 4-year-old children's knowledge of healthy eating, active play and the sustainability consequences of their food and toy choices. Ninety intervention and 65 control parent/child dyads were recruited. We assessed the study feasibility by examining recruitment and participation, completion of data collection, realization of the intervention and early childhood educators' experiences of implementing the study protocol; our findings suggest the intervention was feasible to deliver. In addition, children's sustainability awareness of non-compostable and recyclable items increased. Children in the intervention group significantly reduced their sugary drink consumption and increased their vegetable intake at follow-up compared to control. We conclude with recommendations for revisions to the child interview and parent questionnaire delivery to ensure the roll out of the randomized trial is conducted efficiently and rigorously.

Men's behaviour change programs (MBCPs) are group programs for men using family violence. This preliminary evaluation examines participants' and facilitators' perceptions of a redeveloped MBCP. Participants reported significant improvements in their ability to manage stress, understand the impact of their use of violence, and apply skills to repair the impact of their use of violence. Facilitators reported that peer support was an important component contributing to changes in the participants' knowledge, awareness, attitudes, and behaviours. Preliminary findings indicate that the program could potentially influence men's perceptions of family violence and consequently promote the safety and wellbeing of women and children. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mental health and developmental challenges that emerge in early childhood can be associated with difficulty in social interactions and behavioural regulation. With educational policies increasingly promoting inclusion in early learning settings, educators are being called upon to support children's social-emotional competence through evidence-informed practice. A narrative review was undertaken to explore the breadth and summarize research findings related to educator-led Tier 3 social and emotional learning intervention for children with diagnosed mental health conditions or developmental delays. Nineteen evaluation studies were reviewed and synthesized into four themes: (i) instruction embedded into daily routines and activities; (ii) direct skill instruction; (iii) peer-mediated interventions; and (iv) individualized assessment-based approaches. Interventions targeted children with neurodevelopmental disorders, and developmental, social and communication delays, with findings suggesting improvement in children's social skill during or post intervention. Evidence of maintenance and generalization were, however, inconsistent. There is a paucity of peer-reviewed research examining interventions for young children experiencing anxiety or mood disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]