Teacher-child Relationships Research Articles

Quality of Teacher–Child Relationships: An Exploration of its Effect on Children’s Emergent Literacy Skills

Quality of Teacher–Child Relationships: An Exploration of its Effect on Children’s Emergent Literacy Skills

Child–teacher relationship training exclusively in the classroom: Impact on teacher attitudes and behaviors.

Child–teacher relationship training exclusively in the classroom: Impact on teacher attitudes and behaviors.

Exploring the experiences of elementary teachers after completing Child Teacher Relationship Training (CTRT): Implications for teaching in diverse school settings.

Exploring the experiences of elementary teachers after completing Child Teacher Relationship Training (CTRT): Implications for teaching in diverse school settings.

초등학교 입학 이후 아동의 개인 요인과 학교 환경 요인이 학교 적응에 미치는 종단연구

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze longitudinally the effect of individual factors (gender, self-esteem, academic performance, and maternal parenting behavior) and school environmental factors (teacher-child relations) on the school adjustment of children after entering elementary school.
 Methods This study used the longitudinal data from 8th to 11th cycles (2016-2018) surveyed from 1st grade to 4th grade of elementary school by the Childcare Policy Research Institute. The listwise deletion method was used to solve the missing values in the longitudinal data, and the final 252 students (male=127, female=125) data were used. Through multi-level growth analysis, this study analyzed the changes of elementary school students individual and school environmental factors on school adjustment after elementary school enrollment.
 Results First, it was discovered that school adjustment of children in the first through fourth grades of elementary school was insufficient but increased over time. Second, while controlling for the gender of elementary school students, only academic performance had a statistically significant positive effect on the trajectory of changes in school adjustment of children in the first to fourth grades of elementary school. Third, while controlling for the gender of elementary school students, it was discovered that the teacher-child relationship had a statistically significant positive effect on the change in school adjustment of children in the first to fourth grades of elementary school. Fourth, among the individual variables, only gender and teacher-child relationship as school environmental factors had a statistically significant positive effect on the change in school adjustment of children in the first to fourth grades of elementary school.
 Conclusions Through this results, the implications for successful school adjustment of children were discussed.

Closeness, Conflict, and Culturally Inclusive Pedagogy: Finnish Pre- and In-service Early Education Teachers' Perceptions.

This study explored the factorial and concurrent validity of a scale developed for assessing teachers’ self-efficacy beliefs in engaging with diversity in early childhood education settings. According to tests of measurement invariance, the conceptualization of the constructs varied to some extent between Finnish student teachers and qualified teachers. Qualified teachers reported, at the item level, higher confidence in engaging with diversity in mainstream early childhood classrooms than student teachers. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that for both groups, higher levels of reported confidence in planning and implementing inclusive teaching–learning interactions were related to a higher level of closeness during interactions with children. The evidence for concurrent validity may imply beneficial and reciprocal influences between teachers’ confidence in their professional competence and close teacher–child relationships. The implications of the study are discussed from the perspective of teacher training and professional development in the early childhood education context.

Peer Microaggressions and Social Skills among School-Age Children of Sexual Minority Parents through Assisted Reproduction: Moderation via the Child–Teacher Relationship

The impact of peer microaggressions and the child–teacher relationship on the social skills of children with sexual minority parents has received little attention. The current study used a mixed-method, multi-informant, two-wave longitudinal design to address this research gap. Thirty-seven children of lesbian mothers through donor insemination and 33 children of gay fathers though surrogacy (wave 1: Mage = 8.3 years, SD = 1.6; 51.4% female; wave 2: Mage = 9.9 years, SD = 1.7), all school-aged and residing in Italy, participated together with their 140 parents and 55 teachers. Approximately two-thirds of the children reported at least one peer microaggression and, on average, microaggressions were of a low intensity. Child–teacher relationships were of high quality (i.e., characterized by high safe haven–seeking and secure base use, and low conflict). Both parents and teachers reported high levels of child social skills. However, more intense W1 microaggressions predicted lower W2 social skills among children reporting a lower W1 child–teacher relationship quality, and greater W2 social skills among those reporting a higher W1 child–teacher relationship quality. These results support the child–teacher relationship as a potentially secure context in which children can “mentalize” negative experiences such as microaggressions and improve their social skills. In this vein, considering microaggression, attachment, and developmental intergroup theories, teachers must attune to the school experiences of children with sexual minority parents and cultivate caring classroom environments that are sensitive to family diversity.

Caregiver–child relationships in after-school care: the role of gender and the gender match

ABSTRACT Affective teacher–child relationships have frequently been investigated in school settings, but less attention has been devoted to these relationships in after-school care. This study explored caregiver- (N = 90) and child-informed reports (N = 90) of the affective caregiver–child relationship (N = 180 dyads) in Dutch after-school care, exploring gender differences at caregiver and child level and the relationship with a gender match between children and caregivers. The caregivers and children reported relatively high levels of closeness and relatively low level of conflict and dependency/autonomy support, irrespective of gender. Multilevel regression analyses revealed that a gender match between child and caregiver was associated with teacher-reported closeness: levels were highest in female-girl dyads and lowest in male-boy dyads. Further, boys indicated the highest levels of autonomy in male-boy dyads, whereas girls indicated the lowest levels in female-girl dyads. Masculinity of staff was associated with more child-reported autonomy support, whereas femininity predicted caregiver-reported closeness in the relationship.

PLAYING-2-GETHER: can brief in-service training influence preschool teachers’ awareness of play-based strategies for improving relationships?

ABSTRACT This study explores how brief in-service training influences preschool teacherś awareness of competences relevant for building high-quality teacher–child relationships. A pre- and post-test design was used, with a 5-h training session in-between. Thirty-four in-service preschool teachers completed a video-based task before and after training. Qualitative and quantitative analyses were conducted. After the session, the number of teachers identifying the key principles of building relationships with children was significantly higher for one out of the five situations analysed; the number of teachers identifying competencies for building positive relationships was significantly higher for three out of the five situations. Strategies such as observing children were easily identified (before and after training) and strategies such as taking into account the child relational needs were hardly ever identified (before and after training). Discussion highlights potential differential effects of brief in-service training according to the complexity of the training content.

Examining the Reciprocity in Dyadic Teacher-Child Relationships: One-With-Many Multilevel Design

Recent literature has shown the reciprocal influences of teacher-student relationships for both teachers and students in primary school. When it comes to early childhood education, very few studies have examined the level and the nature of agreement between teachers’ and students’ perceptions for their dyadic relationships. Using the one-with-many model (OWM), a dyadic analysis approach, the present study aims to examine the degree of agreement between teachers’ and students’ perceptions about their dyadic relations. The Student-Teacher Relationship Scale (STRS) and the Child Appraisal of the Relationship with the Teacher Scale (CARTS) are used to assess the quality of teacher–student dyadic relationships from teachers’ and students’ perceptions, respectively. The dyadic sample (N = 1,345 teacher-student dyads) is recruited from 168 preschool classrooms in Greece. Results of the OWM analysis showed that teachers and students evaluated their dyadic relationship quality in a different way and there is no reciprocity in their views. Implications of the study’s results are also discussed.

Practitioner Review: Dyadic teacher-child relationships: comparing theories, empirical evidence and implications for practice.

Research on dyadic teacher-child relationships has grown rapidly. However, a review of relevant theories and its implications for assessment and intervention has been lacking so far. A selective review of theories, empirical evidence and interventions was conducted. Different theories highlight distinct aspects of teacher-child relationships and have different implications for assessment and intervention. The attachment perspective on dyadic teacher-child relationships is most widely applied in psychological research. Also relatively well-known is self-determination theory. However, the interpersonal theory, though widely applied in educational research to teacher-class interactions, has been largely overlooked in research on dyadic teacher-child relationships. The overarching dyadic systems perspective, providing insight in the dynamic interplay between different aspects of teacher-child relationships, also deserves more attention. Recommendations to improve teacher-child relationships address the need for teacher sensitivity, relationship-based communication and flexibility in interpersonal behaviour in everyday teaching.

Depressive and anxious symptoms and teacher-child dependency and conflict in early childhood

Internalizing symptoms, including depressive and anxious symptoms, are among the most common mental health concerns for young children. In middle childhood, children who experience more frequent internalizing symptoms tend to also experience more negative relationships with their teachers. Less is known about how children's depressive and anxious symptoms are associated with teacher-child relationship quality in early childhood. The few studies of these associations in early childhood present mixed findings on the directionality of these associations. To address these mixed findings in early childhood, the current study used autoregressive latent trajectory models with structured residuals to examine four conceptual models of the concurrent and prospective associations between children's depressive and anxious symptoms and teacher-child dependency and conflict, including concurrent, child-driven, relationship-driven, and transactional models. Participants were 428 children (49.1% girls, Mage = 4.09 years, SD = 0.32) assessed in the fall and spring of preschool and kindergarten. Children's symptoms of depression and anxiety were related to the concurrent quality of teacher-child dependency and conflict, supporting the concurrent model. Children who experienced increased depressive and anxious symptoms across preschool and kindergarten, relative to their peers and their own average experiences, tended to also experience more dependent and conflictual relationships with their teachers.

Moderating Effects of Teacher–Child Relationship on the Association Between Unsociability and Play Behaviors

The present study aimed to examine the moderating role of the quality of the relationship between children and their teachers (i.e., closeness and conflict), in children’s unsociability and play behaviors (i.e., reticent behavior, social play). Participants were 211 three- to six-year-old children (M = 64.08 months, SD = 10.92, 94 girls, 117 boys). Mothers reported their unsociability; teachers reported teacher–child relationships and children’s play behaviors. Results showed that close teacher–child relationships moderated the association between unsociability and social play in children (buffering effect). Teacher–child conflict exacerbated the relations between unsociability and reticent behavior. Findings show that teacher–child closeness is effective in revealing social play behaviors of unsociable children. Teachers can improve their relationship with unsociable children to provide nurturing social play behavior.

The Role of Teacher–Child Relationship Quality in Black and Latino Boys’ Positive Development

The Role of Teacher–Child Relationship Quality in Black and Latino Boys’ Positive Development

Toddler teachers' responses to tantrums and relations to successful resolutions

AbstractToddler tantrums are a typical part of child development but can cause stress to the teacher–child relationship (Schindler et al., 2015). Understanding how to resolve tantrums is an important skill, yet there is little research to guide teachers. The present study observed two toddler‐classrooms, examining teachers' responses to 46 tantrums, and the results of these responses. Exploratory analysis examined the applicability of a popular framework for conceptualizing tantrums as emotional or cognitive. Results suggest when toddler teachers used a combination of emotionally supportive strategies, 91% of tantrums were resolved. The use of controlling strategies suggests teachers need support on effective responses to tantrums. The ability to categorize tantrums suggests a framework many practitioners endorse could be useful in communicating effective strategies.

Longitudinal associations among teacher–child relationship quality, behavioral engagement, and academic achievement

Informed by attachment theory and self-determination theory, the goal of this study was to test the hypothesis that behavioral engagement mediates the longitudinal associations between teacher–child relationship quality and academic achievement. In addition, in an exploratory manner, we expected to identify some additional transactional relations among these variables. Participants were 301 children (Mage = 65.72 months, SD = 4.18 months; 49% boys) and their teachers. In each spring semester from kindergarten to second grade, teachers reported on the closeness and conflict in the teacher–child relationship and on children's academic skills. Each year, trained observers rated children's behavioral engagement in the classroom, and a different group of research assistants assessed children's academic skills using subscales from the Woodcock–Johnson III Tests of Achievement. Cross–lagged panel models indicated that teacher–child conflict in kindergarten was indirectly related to teacher–reported academic skills in second grade through behavioral engagement in first grade. There was also evidence of transactional, negative relations between teacher–child conflict and behavioral engagement from kindergarten to first grade. These findings highlight behavioral engagement as a mechanism linking early teacher–child conflict and children's later academic skills.

Determining journal article citation classics in school psychology: An updated bibliometric analysis using Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science

Bibliometric analyses have been the primary form of examining and evaluating literature within a field of study. By focusing on citation count and source, researchers have been able to identify journal articles considered to be high impact in reach and relevance, branding them “citation classics” in a field. As time progresses, technology, methods, and metrics for conducting these analyses have improved, and although there have been several studies designed to identify citation classics and patterns of citations supporting them in school psychology literature, none have done so in an updated, comprehensive manner. To address these limitations, the current study aims to replicate and extend these works in three major ways: (a) including 11 primary school psychology journals in the search, (b) using three of the largest reference databases, and (c) collapsing results across these databases to accurately identify the most highly cited articles. The search yielded evidence of more than 12,000 articles accruing more than 500,000 citations. The 100 most highly cited articles were identified, and the majority were classified as explicative (n = 63) and quantitative (n = 70). Themes of bullying, burnout, and teacher-child relationships were the prominent focus. School psychology's citation classics tended to feature quantitative research and examine the relations between constructs, and several revealed a new category of citations classics: the methodological and statistical article.

Moving to The Beats: The Effect of Dance Education on Early Self-Regulation

Self-regulation in children is an important thing that needs to be prepared from an early age. Besides affecting children's school readiness, this also makes it easier for children to have good academic achievements. This study aims to determine the influence of moving to the beat of early childhood self-regulation. This research was conducted on kindergarten group B students in East Jakarta. The research method used is a quasi-experiment method with a sample of 20 students. The data collection technique uses observations by analysing paired t-test statistical data. The results of the study explained that there was a significant effect of moving to the beat of early childhood self-regulation. The significance level is 0.000 < 0.05, which means that H0 is rejected and H1 is accepted, this indicates a significant difference between the pre-test and post-test. For further research, it is recommended to look at the influence of other factors on early childhood self-regulation.
 Keywords: Beats, Early childhood, Moving, Self-Regulation

Strengthening Individual Teacher-Child Relationships: An Intervention Study Among Student Teachers in Special Education

Relationships with children with special educational needs can be emotionally challenging for teachers and conflicts may negatively impact both children and teachers. Beginning teachers in particular may struggle with negative teacher-child relationships and the emotions these invoke. A first step in coping with relationship difficulties with specific children is increasing the teacher’s awareness and understanding of relational themes and emotions in the relationship with that specific child. Therefore, this multiple case intervention study examined the effects of LLInC (Leerkracht Leerling Interactie Coaching in Dutch, or: Teacher Student Interaction Coaching) in a sample of six student teachers in their final internship. LLInC is a relationship-focused coaching program using narrative interview techniques to facilitate in-depth reflection on teacher-child relationships. The intervention aims to foster teachers’ awareness of (negative) internalized emotions and beliefs in order to improve closeness and positive affect, and to reduce conflict and negative affect in teacher-child relationships. Participants repeatedly reported on their perceptions of the teacher-child relationship and on emotions in relation to a specific child before and after the LLInC intervention, which consisted of two one-on-one sessions with a coach. Visual between- and within-phases analyses revealed differential intervention effects across teachers on the development of teacher-child relationship quality and relationship emotions. For all teachers, except for one, positive effects were found on feelings of joy and perceptions of closeness. Preventive effects (i.e., stopping downward trends) were more often observed for competence-based and relationship-based emotions and perceptions (competence, commitment, closeness) than for basic emotions (joy, anger, worry). Although further research is needed, the results highlight the potential of LLInC in influencing pre-service teachers’ child-specific emotions and relationship perceptions. Directions for future research and implications for teacher education are discussed.

Teacher–Child Interaction in a Goal-Oriented Preschool Context: A Micro-Analytical Study

The international trend of positioning the preschool as a pre-academic learning environment is challenging for preschool teachers, as it necessitates a balance between emotionally supportive interaction and goal-oriented learning instruction. However, previous research suggests that the complexities of such interactions need to be further studied. This article contributes by presenting a very detailed exploration of how social adaptation is pursued in a goal-oriented documentation activity. The study used a micro-sociological approach, characterized by the careful analysis of verbal and nonverbal interactions. Two research questions were raised: (1) How is social adaptation pursued in verbal and nonverbal interactions in preschool teacher–child relationships during a goal-oriented activity? and (2) How can social adaptation in the preschool context be understood in terms of a “deference-emotion system”? Interactions between a teacher and child in two video-recorded episodes were transcribed and sequentially analyzed thoroughly. The findings suggest that the interactions were regulated through an informal system of social sanctions, in which nonverbal signs of deference played a key role. The interaction was shown to be embedded in an institutional context that advocates goal-oriented instruction, thus highlighting the challenge of preschool teaching in attempting to promote goal-oriented processes while simultaneously maintaining respectful, caring teacher–child relationships.

Preschool children’s social competence: the roles of parent–child, parent–parent, and teacher–child relationships

ABSTRACT Children’s relationships with adults (e.g. parents and teachers) and within-family relationships (e.g. parent–parent) are important drivers for the development of children’s social competence. The current study examined the contributions of adult–child relationships (parent–child and teacher–child) and parent–parent relationships to preschool children’s social competence. In addition, the moderating roles of teacher–child relationships between parent–child and parent–parent relationships, and children’s social competence were examined. Participants were parents and teachers of 127 children (M = 54.65, SD = 9.22 months) from Turkey. Parents reported on parent–child and parent–parent relationships and teachers reported on teacher–child relationships and children’s social competence. Hierarchical regression models accounting for the nesting structure of the data were run to test the hypotheses. Results showed that teacher–child closeness was positively and teacher–child conflict was negatively associated with children’s social competence. Parent–child and parent–parent relationships were not associated with children’s social competence. Teacher–child closeness moderated the association between parent–parent conflict and social competence. The findings highlight the importance of examining both parent–parent and teacher–child relationships in the prediction of children’s social competence.