Conclusions
MCEP fills a gap in early childhood education services, particularly within programs operating on narrow margins and serving families with limited access to health services. Because MCEP can be administered entirely by school personnel, it is potentially more sustainable and cost-effective than current programs focused on the child, the mother, or the pair in a healthcare setting. This study has demonstrated the alignment of MCEP with calming cycle theory and explored the intervention’s impact through observations of participants’ interactions during group and through mothers’ reflections during interviews. It was striking that the data so strongly supported the synergy of two of the foundational elements of the calming cycle: emotional expression and the face-to-face on lap calming position (Fig. Taken together with the quantitative data, hearing the words of mothers in this qualitative sub-study calls for implementation studies towards broad dissemination of MCEP into preschools.