Browsing by Author "Coelho, Vera"
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- Associations between perceived maternal acceptance–rejection and social and emotional competence of preschool childrenPublication . Peixoto, Carla; Coelho, Vera; Machado, Francisco; Fonseca, SusanaThis study analysed the associations between preschoolers’ perceived maternal acceptance–rejection and their social and emotional competence. Participants were 90 Portuguese children (55.6% boys) aged 54–82 months and their parents. Children completed the Early Childhood Parental Acceptance–Rejection Questionnaire Mothers’ Short Form) and parents reported the children’s social and emotional skills using the Social Skills Rating System and the Emotion Regulation Checklist. Significant correlations between perceived maternal acceptance–rejection and children’s age and mothers’ education were found. Older children reported higher maternal rejection and children with lower educated mothers perceived less maternal warmth/affection. Moreover, hierarchical regression analysis showed that after controlling for children’s age and mothers’ education, maternal rejection contributes independently to children’s social skills, with children who perceive more maternal rejection showing fewer social skills. The findings suggest that families should be supported with more knowledge about the importance of expressing daily warmth to children in early childhood.
- Beyond diagnosis: the relevance of social interactions for participation in inclusive preschool settingsPublication . Pinto, Ana I; Grande, Catarina; Coelho, Vera; Castro, Susana; Granlund, Mats; Björck-Åkesson, EvaPurpose: This study aims to explore the role of three specific factors within the child-environment interaction process - engagement, independence and social interactions - in influencing development and learning of children with disabilities in inclusive preschool settings. The main question is whether children can be categorised in homogenous groups based on engagement, independence and social interactions (proximal variables within a biopsychosocial framework of human development). The study also examined whether children with the same diagnosis would group together or separately, when trying to identify clusters of engagement, independence and social interactions, and additionally whether such clusters vary as a function of individual child characteristics, and/or as a function of structural and process characteristics of preschool environment. Methods: Data was taken from an intervention study conducted in mainstream preschools in Portugal. A person-centered cluster analysis was conducted to explore group membership of children with various diagnoses, based on their engagement, independence and social interaction profiles. Results: Results show that children clustered based on similarity of engagement, independence and social interaction patterns, rather than on diagnosis. Besides, it was found that quality of peer interaction was the only predictor of cluster membership. Conclusion: These findings support the argument that participation profiles may be more informative for intervention purposes than diagnostic categories, and that preschool process quality, namely peer interaction, is crucial for children's participation.
- Child Engagement in Inclusive Preschools: Contributions of Classroom Quality and Activity SettingPublication . Coelho, Vera; Cadima, Joana; Pinto, Ana IsabelPreschool process quality and activity setting are considered important aspects influencing child engagement. As such, it is important to understand how educational settings can promote engagement, particularly for children with disabilities and/or at risk. This observational study describes process quality and activity setting in inclusive preschools, analyzing its predictive role for child engagement. Participants were 184 children attending 39 preschools. Three groups of children, nested within classrooms, were considered: with disabilities (n = 45), at risk (n = 59), typically developing (n = 80). Child Observation in Preschool assessed engagement and activity setting; Classroom Assessment Scoring System assessed quality of teacher–child interactions. Research Findings: Results from multilevel regressions show that classroom emotional support and organization and more time in free play were positively predicting child engagement, whereas more time in whole group was a negative predictor of engagement. Besides these main effects, an interaction effect between child developmental functioning and activity settings was found. For at-risk children, more time in whole-group activities had greater negative effects on child engagement. For children with disabilities, more time in free-play had greater positive effects on child engagement. Practice or Policy: Results contribute to inform teachers regarding the importance of individualizing interactions and planning activity settings to promote engagement and participation in inclusive preschools.
- Child functioning in inclusive preschools: Associations between self-regulation, engagement, prosociality, and hyperactivityPublication . Coelho, Vera; Cadima, Joana; Pinto, Ana IsabelThis longitudinal study examined three groups of children with different levels of developmental functioning who were attending the same inclusive preschool classrooms. It investigated whether gains in self-regulation varied according to developmental functioning and whether the longitudinal associations between selfregulation and later engagement, prosociality, and hyperactivity differed between children with low, medium, and high levels of functioning. Participants comprised 247 preschoolers. Fifty-four were low functioning, 78 were low-medium functioning, and 115 were medium-high functioning. All groups improved their self-regulation over time, though initial levels and growth patterns were different. Children with low-medium functioning showed more accelerated gains than the other groups. Gains in self-regulation were associated with lower hyperactivity and higher engagement in all groups by the end of preschool. Developmental functioning was related to later prosociality and engagement. The results revealed potential differentiated trajectories for children within the same classrooms, highlighting the interdependence of developmental functioning and self-regulation.
- Infant child care quality in Portugal: Associations with structural characteristicsPublication . Barros, Silvia; Cadima, Joana; Bryant, Donna M.; Coelho, Vera; Pinto, Ana Isabel; Pessanha, Manuela; Peixoto, CarlaThis study examines the quality of infant center care in Portugal through a multi-measure approach and investigates the associations among process quality dimensions and structural quality indicators. Ninety infant child care classrooms were observed during two full mornings with the ITERS-R, the CLASS-Infant and the CIS. Results revealed that a two-factor structure of process quality with the domains (a) Relationships and (b) Use of Space and Materials provided the best fit to the data. Of the structural indicators that were examined, teacher training showed the most robust relation to both process quality domains. In addition, classrooms with smaller groups and in centers located in non-urban areas were likely to show more sensitive relationships between teachers and infants. These findings have implications for public policy and professional development efforts on infant center care.
- Literature review on early childhood education and care for children under the age of 3Publication . Coelho, Vera; Cadima, Joana; Nata, Gil; Barros, Silvia; Barata, ClaraThis literature review provides an up-to-date comprehensive overview of what is known about process quality in early childhood education and care (ECEC) provision for children under age 3. It builds on empirical studies published in peer-reviewed journals between 2010 and 2019. Current views on process quality for children under age 3 highlight that process quality is a multidimensional and value-laden concept. But there is growing agreement on several core features, namely, the prominence of warm/responsive interactions, the value of both education and care and the importance of strong partnerships with parents. Recent studies show positive links between process quality and infant/toddler development. The evidence is relatively robust in terms of the influences of staff preservice training, group size and ratios for process quality in centre-based settings, although more limited for home-based settings. Nevertheless, consideration of complex interactions among structural features is noted. Recent studies further advance knowledge on more finegrained understandings of process quality.
- Predictors of parent-teacher communication during infant transition to childcare in PortugalPublication . Coelho, Vera; Barros, Sílvia; Burchinal, Margaret R.; Cadima, Joana; Pessanha, Manuela; Pinto, Ana Isabel; Peixoto, Carla; Bryant, Donna M.Although literature reports associations between parent-teacher communication and childcare quality, little is known about how such communications are related to family, child and childcare characteristics. This study examines whether child, family and childcare experience characteristics predict the level of parent-teacher communication, and differences between parents’ and teachers’ reports of communication. Participants were mothers of 90 infants and their teachers in childcare in Portugal. Results show that both parents and teachers report higher levels of communication in higher-quality programmes. Teachers reported more frequent communication than parents. Teachers, but not parents, reported more frequent communication when children spent fewer hours in childcare. Discussion highlights the relevance of monitoring the quality of childcare contexts, especially in early ages, and to increase parent-teacher communication when children spend more time in childcare. The importance of promoting high-quality childcare and accounting for variables at the mesosystemic level of development in teacher training are also discussed.
- Quality of infant child care and early infant development in Portuguese childcare centersPublication . Pinto, Ana Isabel; Cadima, Joana; Coelho, Vera; Bryant, Donna M.; Peixoto, Carla; Pessanha, Manuela; Burchinal, Margaret R.; Barros, SílviaIn this study, we examine associations between the quality of teacher-child interactions and infant outcomes during their first months in Portuguese childcare centers. Participants were 90 infants, their mothers and their teachers. A set of multiple regression models were conducted to determine whether classroom quality related to active engagement and non-engagement and to adaptive behavior six months later, controlling for important covariates, namely developmental age, child temperament, mothers’ education, and home quality. Results showed that, in higher quality classrooms, infants spent more time actively engaged, less time non-engaged and six months later were rated as having higher levels of adaptive behaviors. Findings provide further evidence for the need to better support teachers in fostering infant active engagement and unfolding capacities as part of high-quality daily experiences in childcare.
- Self-Regulation, Engagement, and Developmental Functioning in Preschool-Aged ChildrenPublication . Coelho, Vera; Cadima, Joana; Pinto, Ana Isabel; Guimarães, CristianaSelf-regulation can be relevant for engagement, as children need to be able to modulate behaviors and control attention to be engaged. Although previous studies focus on the relation between self-regulation and engagement, little is known about this subject in children with disabilities or at risk. This study analyzes relations between self-regulation and engagement in inclusive preschool settings, considering children’s developmental functioning (DF). The main goal is to examine whether DF moderates the relation between self-regulation and engagement. Participants include three groups of children: with disabilities (n = 54), at risk (n = 78), and typically developing (n = 115). DF was assessed with a short version of the Matrix for Assessment of Activities and Participation; self-regulation with Head-Toes-Knees-Shoulders; and engagement with Child Observation in Preschool. Results indicated that higher levels of self-regulation were related to higher levels of engagement. A moderation effect between self-regulation and DF was also found: in the group of children with disabilities, the influence of self-regulation on engagement was larger. This highlights the relevance of promoting self-regulation, particularly in children with lower DF.
- Social and Emotional Learning in Preschool Settings: A Systematic Map of Systematic ReviewsPublication . Djamnezhad, Dariush; Koltcheva, Nadia; Dizdarevic, Alma; Mujezinovic, Amila; Peixoto, Carla; Coelho, Vera; Achten, Mart; Kolumbán, Erika; Machado, Francisco; Hofvander, Björn