Abstract:

The research was carried out with the aim of studying the levels of emotional intelligence of children aged 5-6 years and their teachers’ opinions about emotional intelligence. In the study, the karma method was used. The quantum size of the research is designed according to the relative scan model, while the quality size is designed according to the event model. The qualitative data with the "Sullivan Emotional Intelligence Scale for Children" was collected with the "Teachers' Opinion and Applications on Emotional Intelligence" developed by the researcher. The work group was formed in 2015-2016 educational year with 411 children and 21 educational teachers who continue to the official pre-school educational institutions in the center of the district. Quantitative results of the study showed that children’s emotional intelligence did not show statistically meaningful differences according to gender and age variables; that parents showed differences in the dimension of recognition of emotions according to their learning status. According to the results obtained from the qualitative part of the study, teachers have awareness of the emotional intelligence and the characteristics of emotional intelligence in children, they express that the emotional intelligence of children is influenced by factors such as gender and family income, they see the family as a factor that more affects the emotional intelligence of children, they indicate that it is necessary to educate families for this, they frequently apply to drama activities to support the development of emotional intelligence. According to the results of the study, the preparation of educational programs aimed at supporting the emotional intelligence skills for pre-school children can take into account the impact of the educational program on the emotional intelligence skills of children.

Keywords: