Developing emotional competence in early years education settings: The value of conversing about emotions and other mental states

Against the background of the social constructionist perspective, my presentation will be centred around recent research on early years education interventions designed to foster socio-emotional competence. Specifically, I will delve into training studies conducted by my research group and me, with small groups of children in daycare centres and preschools, on the role of language games and conversations in enhancing emotion development. I will discuss the characteristics and efficacy of validated programs based on conversing about emotions, with a view to drawing out the educational implications of early interventions that leverage the active use of mental state language during group interactions.