The present study explores whether kindergarten children with and without immigrant parents in Germany differ in respect to their emotion understanding (TEC) and their behavioral self-regulation (HTKS). 356 three-to-six-year-olds with germanborn parents were contrasted with 155 children with at least one parent who was born abroad. In addition, influences of children's age, gender, and their receptive understanding of the German language were included in the analyses. There were strong effects for migration background and no main effects for gender. When children's language abilities were included in the analyses, the significant influence of having at least one immigrant parent on emotion understanding and behavioral self regulation disappeared. Moreover: receptive language skills that are related to parents' migration status exerted themselves a significant influence. Children with at least one non-german parent were on average less proficient in their receptive language abilities, their emotion understanding, and their behavioral self-regulation than children of two germanborn parents. The function of language for the acquisition of emotion understanding and self regulation is discussed. © Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht GmbH & Co. KG, Göttingen 2010.

Migration Kindergarten children Test of emotion comprehension (TEC) Behavioral self regulation Emotion understanding

Child Day Care Centers language development Germany comprehension cooperation psychological aspect Emotions human Internal-External Control control day care Humans Cross-Cultural Comparison social control male Emigrants and Immigrants Personality Development ego development preschool child female Child, Preschool cultural factor Article emotion speech perception Social Control, Informal migration age Age Factors Cooperative Behavior social behavior Child