The Ministry of Education, Culture and Research, in cooperation with the UNICEF Moldova Country Office, launched a distance parental education program intended for children aged between 0 and 7, IPN reports, quoting a press release of the Ministry
Secretary of state for education Natalia Grîu said the program satisfies the parents’ or childcarers’ need to help the children in crisis conditions. “The children should not feel the effects of the pandemic. They should be motivated to study further – to play, to read, to recite poems, to run, etc. They should not be obstructed by the refusal or incapacity of the parents or family to offer them the necessary support. The emotional connection with the family and the determination of this to take part in parental education activities are thus very important,” noted Natalia Grîu.
UNICEF Representative in Moldova Desiree Monique Jongsma stated that the launched training courses will help teaching staff of early education institutions to learn online methods of work with the family so as to teach it positive parental skills that would help ensure a safe, danger-free physical and social environment. “I hope these online courses will help you support the parents and childcarers so that they talk to the small children about the COVID-19 pandemic, explain to them the need to stay at home, organize a safe environment for children at home and teach the children to respect personal hygiene,” said Desiree Monique Jongsma.
The subjects for discussion will include the family and its role in developing the child, the father’s role in the process, the children’s temperament and how to address it, the parents’ stress and emotional wellbeing of children, prevention of violence against children by positive disciplining, organization of time in the family, etc.
Informational aids were worked out for parents with pieces of advice as to how to talk to children about COVID-19, how to read to them, how to communicate and play with them, how to create a safe environment for them and how to teach them simple hygiene rules.
During April 21-23, 160 specialists of local education bodies, managerial and teaching staff with trainer/mentor duties will train, for their part, parent educators of early education institutions.
