Examining relations of emotional intelligence and empathy with moral and social rule knowledge during pre-school period

The research aims to investigate relations between emotional intelligence and empathy levels with moral and social rules knowledge of children who attend an independent kindergarten and also are expected to continue to primary school next year. Additionally, the relationship between various variables and levels of emotional intelligence, empathy, moral and social rules knowledge is examined. The sample was determined by simple random sampling method and included children that attends 12 independent kindergartens in central districts of Ankara during the 2017-2018 academic year. The sample includes 115 children aged 61 to 81 months. In this study relational screening model was used and data was gathered via Demographic Information Form, Sullivan Children Emotional Intelligence Scale, Sullivan Children Empathy Scale, Moral and Social Rules Knowledge Scale. Data was anayzed via Spearman's rho, Mann Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis-H Tests. According to the results moral rule knowledge varies with mother's working status and number of children in the family. Social rule knowledge correlates with the years attended to kindergarten. The emotional intelligence levels of children correlates with years attended to kindergarten, and parents' age. Empathy levels vary depending on the gender. Although there is significant correlation between emotional intelligence and moral rule knowledge, not significant relationship was reported with social rules knowledge. The results were interpreted comparing to the literature and future suggestions were presented.