Research Information System
EUROPEAN EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION RESEARCH JOURNAL, 2025 (SSCI, Scopus)
Today, developing life skills is essential for children to adapt to a changing world and cope with challenges. Life skills are cognitive, socio-emotional and personal skills that help individuals overcome everyday difficulties. In the current study, a life skills education program for children aged 60-72 months was developed, and its effect on children's social problem-solving behavior was examined. An embedded design was employed. A quasi-experimental pre-test, post-test and follow-up design assessed the program's effects on children's social problem-solving, while family interviews and child reflections captured behavioral changes. The study included 71 children aged 60-72 months (36 experimental, 35 control). The Social Skills Evaluation Scale, the Communication Skills Scale, the Problem-Solving Skills Scale, the Social Problem-Solving Scale, the Program Evaluation Form for Families and children's drawings were used to collect data. Paired samples t-tests and content analysis were conducted. Results indicated significant gains in problem-solving, communication, interpersonal, and social problem-solving skills in the experimental group. Follow-up results showed that the program's effects persisted after seven weeks. Parent interviews and child reflections confirmed that children attained the program's learning outcomes. Overall, the findings suggest that the program is effective in developing children's life skills and social problem-solving skills.