The Child and the New Environment – a Workshop for Parents

On September 9 2021 a workshop organized by Dar Pazar for parents was held with our guests specialists Zhechka Ivanova – Montessori pedagogue and Dimana Miteva-Naidenova – psychologist and voluntary consultant on breastfeeding at the National Breastfeeding Support Association.

During the meeting, the Karin Dom’s playing cards were presented and the importance of quality parent-child interaction for the development of the child’s brain in the first three years was discussed. The cards, divided by age and areas of child development (general and fine motor skills, speech and communication, problem solving, personal and social development), give many ideas and guidance for parents on what is appropriate to occupy their child in the relevant period. We’ve showcased ideas for games that anyone can make with materials at hand or adapt household items to keep kids entertained and learning.

We have outlined the main points of the adaptation process, which is difficult for every child and family. We’ve looked at strategies to help you navigate through this smoothly and answered any questions you may have. 14 parents took part, among them many men – young or future fathers of little ones, who are facing the first tremors of leaving the home environment and entering a nursery or kindergarten. The main questions were related to how we understand that the adaptation process is complete, what are the signals of difficult adaptation and how can we help the child? How to prepare the child for a big change such as a change of city or country?

During the workshop, the dolls Karin and Sloncho were also involved, who, as faithful friends in the games, open a space for conversations between parents and their children to accept the different, special children. And a story game can be a great way to play out a problematic situation, giving an occasion for sharing and acceptance. Because everything is easier in a game!

At the end of September, another meeting with our specialists is coming up, where we will show more ideas for Montessori materials for parents to make themselves and we will talk about the book “Family Montessori Cooking”, where culinary activities are based on Maria Montessori’s method and the possibility for little chefs means to developing fine motor skills, imagination and provide an opportunity to learn knowledge, refracted through the prism of Karin Dom’s experience.

The workshop is held in implementation of a project “Transfer of practices to improve support for children with special needs and their families for inclusive education” financed by the Active Citizens Bulgaria Fund under the Financial Mechanism of the EEA 2014-2021.