'Happy when they arrive, happy when they go home' – focusing on promoting children's mental health creates a sense of trust at preschools. Issue 4 (2nd October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Haraldsson, Katarina; Isaksson, Pernilla; Eriksson, Monica
• Is Part Of: Early years. Volume 37:Issue 4(2017)
• Page Start: 386
• Page End: 399
• Publication Date: 2017-10-02
• Subjects: Mental health promotion -- teacher -- preschool children -- trust -- qualitative content analysis; Early childhood education -- Periodicals; Early childhood teachers -- Training of -- Periodicals; 370.7122
• DOI: 10.1080/09575146.2016.1191442
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0957-5146

Abstract

Abstract: A need for research on young children's mental health has been identified. Moreover, there is a need to enhance teachers' skills regarding health promotion work in preschool. The aim of the study is to examine the impact of a specific course on mental health promotion among Swedish preschool teachers. Data were gathered through interviews and documentation. A qualitative content analysis was used. Three categories: 'attention', 'belonging' and 'personal growth' – and six subcategories emerged from the analysis. The latent content of these categories is described in the theme: 'Increased awareness, in thoughts and actions, of promoting mental health may create a sense of trust at preschools'. The results show that a specific course to promote mental health enhanced the teachers' awareness of mental health which improved their work with children. This contributed to the development of a sense of trust at preschools, which is important to children's mental health.