Qualitative evaluation of the implementation of “Tuning in to Kids” in Norwegian Kindergartens

The study investigates kindergarten employees’ motivation for implementing the ‘Tuning in to Kids for Kindergarten Teachers’ (TIK-KT) guidance programme in Norwegian kindergartens. The researchers looked at how employees understood the purpose of the programme, their experiences during its implementation, and the challenges they faced, particularly related to the transition from research to practice. The research questions are: 1) What motivates kindergarten managers and teachers to implement the intervention? 2) What do kindergarten managers and teachers think about the relationship between their motivation and the use of emotion guidance for children? 3) How does the motivation of kindergarten managers and teachers change from the beginning to the end of the intervention period?

The results showed that kindergarten managers and teachers generally had a positive attitude towards the intervention. Their motivation for implementing ‘Tuning in to Kids’ was closely linked to a good understanding of the intervention’s goals, especially the importance of emotion guidance for children’s well-being. The participants experienced several ‘aha’ moments along the way, which strengthened their engagement. The study also showed that motivation was high both before and after the implementation, but could be influenced by practical challenges during the process. Changes in motivation over time varied, but overall, the kindergarten staff maintained strong motivation due to their overarching goal of promoting children’s well-being.

The study uses a qualitative research method to investigate the motivation of kindergarten staff during the implementation of TIK-KT. Data were collected through semi-structured telephone interviews with kindergarten managers and teachers from FUS kindergartens in Norway. A total of eleven interviews were conducted, both before and after the intervention period, to identify changes in motivation over time. The interviews were then encoded and analysed using thematic content analysis, where code groups were developed to identify key themes related to motivation and implementation.

Skåland, V. R., Havighurst, S. S., Nygaard, E., & Teig, I. L. (2023). Qualitative evaluation of the implementation of “Tuning in to Kids” in Norwegian Kindergartens. BMC psychology, 11(1), 87.