2nd edition of the Jena child protection folder handed over to kindergartens

Self-confident children who feel valued and experience in everyday life that their wishes and ideas are heard and taken seriously are better protected from danger.

Training for child protection officers

In view of this, prevention is particularly important in nurseries. The aim of all prevention measures is to introduce a culture of respect in which children's boundaries are respected and their rights are realized. Preventive measures should relate to the work with children, the professional development of educational staff, teamwork and the organization of the kindergarten. Protecting children from dangers to their well-being is one of the mandatory tasks of every child daycare facility. With this in mind, training courses for educators in child daycare facilities and child daycare centers to become so-called "child protection officers" for the respective facility are held on an ongoing basis in Jena.

The training courses sharpen the focus on resources and risks and strengthen the confidence to act when it comes to recognizing and assessing indications of child endangerment.

New edition of the child protection folder

A comprehensive work with materials on the topic of child protection has been created to support educators. Every childcare facility and daycare center received such a "child protection folder" with recommendations and handouts. This folder was created in cooperation between the Youth and Education Department and the Youth Welfare Department/ Early Help Division of the City of Jena.

This child protection folder has now been extensively supplemented and updated. Examples include coping with grief, pandemic-related crises, mental illness in families and age-appropriate use of media. Representatives from the kindergartens were introduced to the new features at an event on Wednesday. Two further events will follow.

The new edition of the child protection folder offers handouts for educators to show understanding for parents in stressful life situations, to support them, to develop strategies for action and problem-solving together with parents and to provide the necessary support and help.

Head of Department Eberhard Hertzsch thanked the children's facilities. When it comes to child protection, it is particularly important to regularly address new facets of violence and to work with parents to guarantee the child's welfare. Pedagogical sensitivity is of fundamental importance here.