Actively Recruiting
SAGA for Toddlers Supporting Children's Linguistic and Socio-Emotional Development in Early Childhood Education and Care
Led by University of Helsinki · Updated on 2026-05-08
120
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
N/A
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Helsinki
Lead Sponsor
S
Swedish Cultural Foundation in Finland
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Researchers are evaluating the SAGA for Toddlers intervention to support the social-emotional and language development of children aged 11 to 36 months in early childhood education and care. This study is based on mentalization theory and focuses on shared reading sessions combined with emotion and mind-related dialogues. It also aims to assess the impact on caregivers' and early childhood education personnel's mentalizing abilities and children's screen time. The intervention includes training early childhood education professionals to conduct small group shared reading sessions at least three times a week for 10 weeks. These sessions use picture books and dialogue cards to encourage discussions about emotions. Caregivers participate in special meetings at the education center to support the intervention. A waitlist control group will receive the training after the study period. Participants will be assessed before, immediately after, and nine months following the 10-week intervention. Data collection involves questionnaires on children's social-emotional development, language skills, prosocial behavior, caregivers' emotional availability, and personnel's mentalizing abilities. Children's screen time and related factors will also be monitored. The study is led by the University of Helsinki and takes place in Swedish-speaking early childhood settings in Finland.
CONDITIONS
Brief Title
SAGA for Toddlers. Supporting Children's Linguistic and Socio-Emotional Development in Early Childhood Education and Care
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Child is 11 to 36 months old at the start of the study
- Child lives in Finland
- Child attends Swedish speaking early childhood education and care
You will not qualify if you...
- None
AI-Screening
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Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Your Study Journey
Duration - 2 to 4 weeks
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.
1 visit (in-person or online)
Duration - Up to 2 weeks
ECEC personnel receive training on the SAGA model and caregivers attend an information session. Baseline data collection is done before the intervention starts.
1 visit (in-person or online) for caregivers; personnel training sessions
Duration - 10 weeks
Participants engage in the SAGA for Toddlers intervention which includes shared reading sessions at least three times a week for 10 weeks. Caregivers attend two workshops during this period.
At least 3 shared reading sessions per week; 2 caregiver workshops at the ECEC premises
Duration - 1 week
Data collection immediately after the 10-week intervention to assess social-emotional and language development among other outcomes.
1 visit (in-person or online)
Duration - 1 week
Long-term follow-up data collection 9 months after baseline to evaluate sustained effects of the intervention.
1 visit (in-person or online)
Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
University of Helsinki
Helsinki, Uusimaa, Finland, 00014
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
M
Mirjam Kalland, PhD
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
PREVENTION
Number of Arms
2
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