Social Skills Training to Reduce Aggressive and Withdrawn Behaviours in Child Care Centres

Abstract

Eighteen per cent of school-aged children in Australia have clinically significant behavioural or emotional difficulties. Earlier in life these children often pose a challenge to child-care staff. Many of these children lack the social skills and problem-solving skills necessary to interact prosocially or to deal with conflict situations. This study evaluated the effects of a 10 week social skills and problem-solving skills program on children selected with aggressive or withdrawn behaviour. Results indicated that, for children who received the program, problem behaviour was reduced and appropriate social skills increased. Children in a control group showed no significant changes on the same measures. The advantages of the program are discussed, especially in providing readily accessible early intervention programs to children at risk of later behaviour problems.