Effects of a Mindfulness-Based Education Program on Preschool Children's Attention Skills

Examining the Effect of the Mindfulness Education Programme on the Development of Attention Levels in Children Aged 60-72 Months Continuing Preschool Education

This study examined the effect of the Mindfulness Education Programme on the attention levels of preschool children aged 60-72 months. Using a pre-test-post-test experimental design, the study was conducted with 18 children assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group participated in an 8-week mindfulness programme including activities focused on breath awareness, body awareness, emotions, attention, self-awareness, self-compassion, and gratitude. Children's attention levels were assessed using the Frankfurter Attention Test before and after the intervention.

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of the Mindfulness Education Programme on the attention levels of children aged 60-72 months. The study was designed according to a pre-test post-test design with experimental and control groups. The sample for the study consists of 18 children aged 60-72 months who are attending pre-school education in two similar socio-economic level nursery schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education, selected using an appropriate sampling method in the Central District of Elazığ Province. There are an equal number of children (9 each) in the experimental and control groups; each group consists of 4 girls and 5 boys. Within the scope of the research, the 'Frankfurter Attention Test' developed by Raatz and Möhling in 1971 was used to determine the attention levels of children. In the study, the experimental group underwent the 'Mindfulness Training Programme,' consisting of 32 integrated activities finalised by the researchers based on expert opinions, for 8 weeks, twice a week.This programme is structured around the themes of breath awareness, body scan, senses, emotions, attention and focus, self-awareness, self-compassion and gratitude. No intervention was made in the control group. The 'Frankfurter Attention Test' was administered to both groups before and after the study to compare changes in attention levels between the groups.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children aged 60-72 months
• Enrollment in preschool education
• Attendance at participating preschool institutions
• Parental consent for participation in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children with diagnosed developmental or neurological disorders that could affect attention performance
• Irregular attendance during the intervention process
• Failure to complete pre-test or post-test assessments