The Teddy Bears' Picnic : four-year-old children's personal constructs in relation to behavioural problems and to teacher global concern

Abstract

The study sought to establish cross-test validity for The Teddy Bears' Picnic (TBP), which assesses the internal personal constructs of the troubled child. After showing that the TBP could discriminate between 4-year-olds who were above and below cut-off on the Preschool Behaviour Checklist, the research demonstrated that both tests could distinguish levels of teacher concern about the behaviour and adjustment of the preschoolers in their care. When used in conjunction with one another, the two tests were more powerful than either used alone. The results suggested that children's internal perceptions of self and others, as revealed in pretense, are systematically related to their mental health status.