earticle

영어

Purpose: This study aimed to develop a home-linked program to prevent smoking harm to three-year-old children and to verify its effectiveness in enhancing the smoking harm prevention competencies of both young children and their caregivers. Methods: The participants were 89 three-year-old children enrolled in eight early childhood education institutions in Seoul, Gyeonggi, and Chungnam regions, along with their 65 caregivers. The program consisted of four stages: "Pre-learning," "Storytelling and Discussion," "Family Play Activities," and "Activity Expansion," supported by news cards and video resources to facilitate home-based implementation. The data were analyzed using SPSS/WIN 21.0, applying reliability analysis (Cronbach’s ⍺), descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations), and paired t-tests. Results: The results showed statistically significant improvements in children's smoking harm prevention competencies (knowledge, skills, and attitudes) and caregivers' competencies (knowledge, attitudes, and practices) after the program participation. In particular, a notable enhancement was observed in caregivers' practice domain, indicating that the program effectively promoted actual behavioral change. This study provides the foundational data supporting the importance of home-based approaches and the development of age-appropriate educational programs in early childhood health education. Conclusion: The program enhanced smoking harm prevention competencies in children and promoted practical health behaviors of caregivers, indicating its effectiveness beyond merely imparting information.