UTalca will dictate free workshops for the care and stimulation of girls and boys

What’s the purpose?

Tools that serve to improve the care and stimulation of girls and boys between 3 and 5 years old will be available to the whole community, thanks to a series of free workshops given by the University of Talca. The idea is that with these courses, parents and caregivers can strengthen bonds of secure attachment, stimulate language, learn healthy eating routines and basic first aid content in a pioneering and interdisciplinary initiative called “School for families”.

What are you talking about?

This is an activity organized by the Schools of Psychology, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education with reference to English and the General Directorate of Environmental Relations of the University of Talca.

What do UTalca say?

The Director of the School of Psychology, Andrea Cerda, commented that the idea arose in the midst of conversations with various child health professionals, who noticed in their consultations that “the people who are responsible for young children lack training and knowledge in various areas of development that directly affects the well-being and development of children and unfortunately the response of the state through its public policies on this matter is still insufficient and limited to the social sector. For this reason, it is important that universities, from their educational role, can transmit knowledge to their communities”.

What did Linking with the Medium comment?

The general director of Linkage with the Environment, Karin Saavedra, specified that the initiative demonstrates the great and articulate work of various UTalca schools and considers the responsibility and commitment to the community. “Based on their disciplinary knowledge, each teacher prepared and selected with great dedication the content to be covered in each workshop, but they also wanted to provide this information in an accompanying participant notebook that went beyond the workshop itself,” he explain. Likewise, he emphasized the two-way nature of this activity and that students from the institution itself would participate in the courses. “The observer role allows them to put into practice the knowledge they have learned in the classroom, interact with those who benefit from it and understand the impact they will be able to generate as professionals. This activity adds meaning to their learning process”.

What are the practical lessons?

A school for families will be held from October 15th to January 14th. During these three months, educators and parents will be able to participate in 7 workshops led by academics. Each will last two hours, will be held on Saturday, and its methodology will have a theoretical part and a practical and applied part, through their own life and experience.

What do the workshops consist of?

The first workshop is called “Emotions and their regulation in development” and will be led by the School of Psychology. “The aim is to encourage a more respectful and understanding view of boys and girls’ emotions in order to strengthen bonds of secure attachment between parents and carers and thereby influence better children’s mental health,” explained the director. competition, Andrea Cerda.

This will be followed by two seminars organized by the School of Nursing. The director of this competition, Minerva Astudillo, indicated that both meetings will cover the basic content of first aid, which is very important to act correctly in accidents that can happen at home, on public roads or elsewhere . “In the case of children, due to their stage of development, natural curiosity and often unawareness of the dangers that surround them, they are very exposed to accidents. So for parents, having this knowledge allows them to act proactively to prevent injuries from complicating or worsening by treating them properly,” said the academic.

In November and December, the School of Occupational Therapy will hold two courses. Its director, Pablo Lopez, mentioned that they will provide playful strategies that help stimulate children’s development through play. They will also engage with food based on a professional, playful and sensory perspective, encouraging the acquisition of routine healthy eating patterns.

Language Stimulation is one of two seminars in charge of pedagogy in early childhood education, mention of English. The head of career(s), Alejandra Paves, said that this initiative offers “workshops and materials to be able to guide families in the face of questions and issues that arise when caring for a minor, in such a way that are materialized in directed workshops and dialogues about them in everyday language, accompanied by working texts.

What is the role of the game?

“Play is the main engine for optimal child development, socialization and bonding between fathers, mothers and children,” said Lopez, adding, “food provides the necessary nutrients for adequate child development, affects the physical, cognitive and emotional state, looking at food from the sensory and positive perspective helps us to have happier and more active children in the different contexts in which they develop”.

How are the registrations?