Early Support of Children and Families (3cr)

Objective

Students learn to understand and support children and families according to the principles of educational partnership. Students know how to interact with both children and parents and understand the importance of equal interaction. Students take the best interests of the child into account and they are able to detect families and children at risk. Students are familiar with the principles of early support. They know and use services of early childhood education and other providers of services for children with families. Students are able to ensure that the voice of children and parents is heard and their participation in communities and various environments promoted. Students help children and families express their opinions.

Content

- educational partnership
- principles and implementation of early support
- services in early childhood education
- services for families with children
- the child's best interests
- promoting the families' participation

Materials

Esa Eriksson & Tom Erik Arnkil (2012): Huoli puheeksi – opas varhaisista dialogeista.
Tiina Tiilikainen (2008): ”Lapset työskentelyn osallistujina”. Teoksessa Tiina Muukkonen (toim.) Suunnitelmallinen sosiaalityö lapsen kanssa.
Tiina Muukkonen (2008): ”Lapsikeskeisyys sosiaalityön läpäisevänä periaatteena” – teoksessa Tiina Muukkonen (toim.) Suunnitelmallinen sosiaalityö lapsen kanssa.
Lapsen hyvän kasvun ja kehityksen riskitekijöiden ja suojaavien tekijöiden tunnistaminen (2007). Helsingin kaupungin julkaisuja.

Teaching methods

Lecutres, group work and essay.

Employer connections

Does not include practical training.

Student workload

80 hours

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Students are able to name some of the principles of educational co-operation and partnership and of interactive support. Students are able to name some principles concerning the the rights of the child.
They are able to describe needs of different families, also families and children at risk. Students are able to name some principles of early support. They know some services of early childhood education and other providers of services for children and families and they can describe how the services could be used. Students are able to describe some factors which effect promoting participation of children and families.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Students are able to support children and families according to the principles of educational co-operation and partnership. Students know how to interact with both children and parents. Students know the rights of the child. They are able to detect needs of different families, also families and children at risk. Students are able to use the methods and the principles of early support. They know main the factors of services of early childhood education and other providers of services for children and families and they can use the services while supporting children and families. Students know and are able to apply methods which promote participation of children and families in communities and various environments.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Students are able to support children and families according to the principles of educational co-operation partnership. Students know how to interact with both children and parents using dialogical interaction methods. Students take the best interests of the child into account and they are able to detect needs of different families, also families and children at risk. Students are able to use the methods and the principles of early support. They have an overall picture of services of early childhood education and other providers of services for children and families and they can fix the services together to support children and families. Students are able to ensure that the voice of children and parents is heard and their participation in communities and various environments promoted. Students help children and families express their opinions. Students are able to analyse preconditions of early support of children and families.

Qualifications

Growth and Socialization