This article reports on an evaluation of the “Faustlos”1 curriculum, an adaptation of the American Second Step program, for the prevention of aggressive behaviors of elementary school children.
The evaluation involved a 3-year control group study (30 classes served as an experimental group, 14 classes as a control group). Findings indicate that program participants (children ages 6-9) experienced significant changes in their emotional competence and prosocial development. Children who participated in the “Faustlos” lessons showed significantly reduced anxiety and internalizing behaviors compared with the control group. The parents’ ratings of their children's behavior (according to the Child Behavior Checklist) provided clear evidence of improved social behavior outside the school environment. (publisher abstract modified)