Anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in childhood and have increased following the COVID-19 pandemic. Behavioral inhibition in early childhood is a well-established risk factor for later anxiety. School-based preventive interventions that target both classroom environments and individual child characteristics may help reduce early risk and improve socioemotional development. Interventions delivered in preschool settings that address the needs of behaviorally inhibited children, while also supporting professional development, may improve the quality of interactions within the classroom and with families, and promote positive developmental outcomes.
The Brave Elephant Program is an evidence-based intervention grounded in a bioecological developmental framework. It aims to empower early childhood education professionals to promote socioemotional competence and resilience in all children, while addressing the specific needs of behaviorally inhibited preschoolers and enhancing educators' professional development. This study will evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary outcomes of the program using a single-arm pretest-posttest design.
Children's age between 3 and 6 years
Parents' written informed consent for children's participation in the study.
Children's informed assent to participate in the study.
Parents' ability to read and understand Portuguese.
Children's developmental disorders
Children's, parents' and early education professionals' are enrolled in another psychological intervention.