Assessing Early Childhood Psychological Health in China: Validation of a Measurement Tool From Practitioners’ Perspectives

Children's mental health is essential for their cognitive growth, emotional expression, and social interactions.While early childhood development receives increasing attention, a reliable tool to assess psychological well-being in Chinese preschools remains scarce.This study aims to develop and validate a comprehensive evaluation framework based on insights from early childhood educators.Utilizing a mixed-methods approach, the research examines how teacher-student interactions, emotional intelligence (EI) programs, and family participation influence children's emotional resilience, social behavior, and adaptability.Data was collected from 32 preschool educators, and the reliability of the instrument was verified using Cronbach's alpha.Additionally, convergent and discriminant validity analyses were conducted to ensure the accuracy of the assessment tool.Results indicated strong reliability across all variables, confirming the framework's effectiveness.The findings highlight the importance of meaningful teacher-student relationships and structured EI programs in fostering positive mental health outcomes.Furthermore, active parental involvement was found to be a crucial factor in shaping children's emotional and behavioral development.By providing a validated tool for assessing preschoolers' mental well-being, this study offers valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and researchers.The research aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 4: Quality Education), supporting evidence-based interventions to enhance early childhood mental health initiatives.