WARSAW | 2-3 DECEMBER 2021
Suporting the development of children under the age of three in nurseries.
Best practices and new challenges.
ABOUT THE EVENT
The Mayor of the Capital City of Warsaw invites to the International Online Conference #WarsawForTheYoungest – Supporting the development of children under the age of three in nurseries. Best practices and new challenges.
On 2 – 3 December 2021 Warsaw will host the second edition of the International Online Conference addressed to professionals of the early childhood education and care (ECEC) sector for children under the age of 3, including heads of public and non-public settings, and policymakers and entrepreneurs.
The conference is organised by the Capital City of Warsaw and Municipal Nurseries Complex of the City of Warsaw in cooperation with RoRo Family Development Foundation, “Przymierze Rodzin” Association, TA Szansa Association and Pomelo Daycare.
The aim of the conference is to exchange domestic and international experiences in enhancing quality of the ECEC services, knowledge about its importance for the development of children and societal benefits of investing in the sector.
The conference programme consists of lectures and panel discussions.
The lectures of Professor Cecilia Aguiar and Professor Jenni Salminen on the first day of the event will be presented in English with Polish subtitles .
Participation in the conference is free of charge.
We do not issue certificates of participation in the conference.
SPEAKERS
We will host the below listed experts:
- prof. Cecília Aguiar (ISCTE-IUL, CIS-IUL, Lisbon)
- Jenni Salminen, PhD (University of Jyväskylä, Finland)
- Aneta Jegier, PhD
- Anna Mikler-Chwastek, PhD
- Jagoda Sikora, PhD
- Anna Czechowska
- Ewa Iwińska
- Liliana Marciniak
- Magdalena Skorupka
- Kamila Szulc
Cecília Aguiar
Assistant professor at ISCTE-IUL and a senior researcher at CIS-IUL. With background in developmental and educational psychology, she has both conducted and participated in research on ECEC quality and teacher practices in ECEC, focusing on children’s social outcomes (i.e., peer social interactions and relationships) and, especially, on the social participation of children with disabilities. Other research areas include children’s participation rights, adult-child interactions, early childhood special education, and early childhood intervention.
Aguiar served as an Associate Editor of the Early Childhood Research Quarterly between 2016 and 2019. She has been awarded several grants by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology, including two Scientific Career Development Fellowships as the principal investigator of two projects: “Enhancing peer relationships: Preschool teachers’ ideas and practices” and “Enhancing social participation of preschoolers with disabilities”. Further, she coordinated the dissemination work package in the FP7 CARE Project and the work package on curriculum, pedagogy, and social climate in the H2020 ISOTIS Project.
Aguiar was also the national coordinator for Erasmus+ Projects KIT@ and BECERID. She is the coordinator of the team of PrimeirosAnos.pt, a research-based blog on inclusiveness in early childhood education. Since September 2019, she coordinates the Erasmus+ project PARTICIPA – Professional Development Tools Supporting Participation Rights in Early Childhood Education.
Jenni Salminen
Early Childhood Education teacher and holds a PhD in Education. She is currently working as a post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Teacher Education at the University of Jyväskylä, Finland. After receiving her doctorate in 2015, she has worked in several national and international research projects.
Her current research interest is teacher-child interaction as context for child development in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, particularly in the age group 0–3. Above all, she is interested in understanding how the high quality of teacher-child interactions and pedagogy in ECEC together with the home learning environment can support child development and learning across broad array of early skill domains. Over the past four years she has been a member of a national group of experts at the National Education Evaluation Center (FINEEC). FINEEC aims to support ECEC organisers and private service providers in carrying out systematic and goal-oriented self-evaluation of their services.
Most recent initiative is to develop a digital quality assessment system that can be used to collect information and produce analyses that support the development of early childhood education at both local and national levels.
Aneta Jegier
PhD in Humanities, assistant professor in the Department of Early Childhood Pedagogy at the Academy of Special Education (APS), head of a public nursery in Warsaw, Social Skills Trainer (SST).
She deals with issues of care, upbringing and education of children at nursery and preschool age as well as pedagogical innovations in the area of adult-child relations.
She conducts workshops and trainings for teachers and parents of young children. She is an author of several teaching aids and diagnostic tools.
She is the author of books and articles on supporting children in well-functioning in a nursery and kindergarten.
Being a wife and a mother, she appreciates every moment and draws energy for the realisation of personal and professional challenges.
Anna Mikler-Chwastek
PhD in Humanities, assistant professor in the Department of Early Childhood Pedagogy at the Academy of Special Education in Warsaw. Author of numerous publications on the development of young children, which appeared as monographs, articles in peer-reviewed journals, chapters in scientific monographs and publications popularizing knowledge. She conducts trainings for nursery and kindergarten staff in the scope of child development.
She specialises in areas concerning:
- regularities and disorders of psychomotor development,
- acquisition of elementary independence skills by young children,
- the role of motor activity for psychomotor development,
- supporting children’s development in the area of fine motor skills – elements of hand therapy.
Scientific interests concern disorders of small children’s development and their causes.
Jagoda sikora
Child psychologist in the process of specialising in clinical child and adolescent psychology and a PhD in psychology.
She loves her job and enjoys supporting children and parents in dealing with the challenges that come their way. She has experience in clinical work, which she gained while working with children and adolescents in, among others, Upper Silesia Children’s Health Centre and numerous outpatient and day care centres. She works at the University of Silesia at the Institute of Psychology as an assistant professor.
She completed two levels of certification training in Self-Reg (a method of self-regulation), a study of child and adolescent therapy, and a basic course in Brief Solution Focused Therapy. She is currently training in family psychotherapy. She has received numerous trainings in intervention and diagnostic work with children and adolescents.
Privately, she is a wife and a mother of three boys, who constantly motivate her to develop.
Anna Czechowska
Trainer, coach (ICC), NLP master, certified Positive Discipline educator for parents and teachers and early childhood.
She has initiated the dissemination of Positive Discipline in Poland. Trained as a philologist and teacher, translator of children’s books, novels and guides on parenting and personal development. She has extensive experience in working with people, including parents and teachers.
She conducts development workshops, soft skills workshops, workshops for parents of children of different ages, workshops for teachers and consultations.
She works individually in coaching processes helping people make the changes they want at the pace they choose.
In her work: authenticity, sincerity and effectiveness are important. She believes that knowledge and greater self-awareness have a real impact on individual lives, allowing everyone to make better decisions and thus achieve greater fulfillment. She adheres to the maxim that change is the only constant. Mother of two sons.
Ewa Iwińska
Co-owner and director of Warsaw Pomelo and Avocado nurseries. Graduated in psychology and Polish philology, University of Warsaw. For several years she cooperated with non-governmental organizations (Nobody’s Children Foundation, J.A. Komeński Foundation for Child Development Foundation, Polish Aid Centre, Polish Centre for International Aid, Sto Pociech Foundation).
She completed post-graduate trainings and numerous courses focused on children and families, such as: Counseling and Crisis Intervention Studies, School of Psychological Training and Workshop, courses: caregiver in a nursery and children’s club, Maria Montessori Pedagogy, Nonviolent Communication, Animator of Playgroups, Parenting Skills.
In 2019, she participated in the work of the expert team of the Foundation for Child Development creating the Standards of quality of care and education for young children in Poland (“Quality from the beginning”).
In her work with children and caregivers in the nursery she strives to teach listening to one’s own needs and expressing them, as well as respect for differences. She is an advocate of functional and aesthetic children’s interiors and children’s contact with art.
Liliana Marciniak
Ethnologist (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń) and cultural animator (Study of Theatre Education and Practices at the Puppet Theatre “Enchanted World”), after completing her education (Higher School of Humanities and Journalism in Poznan) she is a nursery school teacher. She is also a certified oligofrenopedagogy teacher (Teacher Training Center “Uniterra” in Poznan) and a teacher of non-professional theatre groups.
She has taken numerous courses to improve her skills as a teacher of young children. After courses of Marshall Rosenberg’s Agreement without Violence for teachers. Trainer of support groups (Sto Pociech Foundation). In the course of postgraduate studies “Management in education and cultural institutions”.
She took her first steps in working with children in nurseries and toddler clubs. She was a manager of a cafe and a children’s bookstore, coordinator of educational projects in commercial and educational institutions. For the last 5 years she has been running playgroups for children up to 3 years old “Home Playground in RoRo Foundation.
She is a teacher and a director of a kindergarten. She works with children, parents and teachers.
Magdalena Skorupka
Graduated Maria Grzegorzewska Academy of Special Education in Warsaw. Positive Discipline educator for parents, teachers and early childhood, fascinated by this approach. She completed, among others, a Trainers’ School recommended by the Polish Psychological Association, Postgraduate Studies in Crisis Intervention, Pedagogical Therapy, as well as long-term training in individual psychological support and systemic work with families. Associated with the Society for Development of Children’s Activity Szansa since 1997, including the Ochota unit in 1997-2016.
Member of the national board of the Association for Development of Children’s Activity “Szansa” (since 2007), as well as initiator, founder, president of the Area Branch of the Society for Development of Children’s Activity Szansa Warsaw Targówek (abbreviated as Ta Szansa since 2016).
Author and co-author of many psychoeducational, training and development programs addressed to children, parents, teachers and people involved in the broadly understood “helping”.
She promotes preventive actions aimed at families with young children, including the Warsaw Clubs for Families. She has many years of experience in conducting workshops developing emotional and social skills of children, and in particular in conducting training workshops on Emotional Intelligence with elements of Positive Discipline aimed at parents, teachers, executives, adults.
Mom of two children. She loves working for NGOs, people and action. Incorrigible optimist.
Kamila Szulc
Psychologist (2010 Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski University), certified trainer (VCC Foundation 2017) in the area of social skills. Currently in the course of the Marshall Rosenberg’s Nonviolent Communication for teachers.
She did her professional internships in therapeutic and rehabilitation centres and therapy centres for people with different types of disabilities, especially people with autism.
In her work as a trainer, she shares her experience with kindergarten teachers, teaches methods used in occupational therapy and working in a non-directive approach. She designs and conducts parenting skills workshops. She cooperates with kindergartens – providing consultations for parents and conducting therapy for children using, among others, the Non-Directive Play Therapy method. She also designs and conducts psychoeducational workshops for pedagogical staff and parents on the development, education and upbringing of a young child.
On a daily basis she gains experience providing support to students of Warsaw primary school. During her workshops for parents and guardians, she focuses on developing parenting skills in dealing with the emotions of a young child, building relationships with them and supporting their development.
Agenda
Day 1
Supporting the development of children under the age of three in nurseries. Best practices and new challenges.
12:00 - 12:05
Opening – Aldona Machnowska-Góra – Deputy Mayor of Warsaw
12:05 - 12:10
Speech – Aleksandra Gajewska – Member of Parliament of 9th term
12:10 - 12:15
Summary of the international conference #WarsawForTheYoungest organised in 2020
12:15
Introduction of the speakers of the 1st day of the event
12:15 - 12:50
Presentation by Cecilia Aguiar, PhD (University Institute of Lisbon, Portugal)
Early childhood education and care in Portugal: Policy and research highlights
12:50 - 13:00
Q&A session with PhD Cecília Aguiar
13:00 - 13:40
Presentation by Jenni Salminen, PhD (Jyväskylä University, Finland)
Early childhood education and care for the youngest – Reflections on professionalism and curriculum in Finland
13:40 - 13:55
Q&A session with PhD Jenni Salminen
13:55 - 14:00
Summary of the 1st conference day
Day 2
Competent nursery staff guaranteeing the fulfilment of children's potential
11:40 - 11:50
Tomasz Pactwa – Director of Warsaw City’s Welfare and Social Projects Department and Aleksandra Gajewska – Member of Parliament of 9th term
Opening
11:50 - 12:10
Liliana Marciniak and Kamila Szulc – RoRo Family Development Foundation
From relationships to education. The role of adults in the learning process of young children
12:10 - 12:35
Anna Mikler-Chwastek PhD and Aneta Jegier PhD – “Przymierze Rodzin” Association
The importance of stimulating children’s development in the nursery
12:35 - 13:15
Jagoda Sikora PhD, Magdalena Skorupka and Anna Czechowska – Ta Szansa Association
Self-regulation in a nursery
13:15 - 13:45
Pomelo Daycare Centre
Planning the space and equipment in the nursery in response to children’s developmental needs
13:45 - 14:00
The nursery through the eyes of a child, a parent, a carer, a specialist and a manager
Organisers and guests
CONTACT
For enquiries about the #WarsawForTheYounges conference please send an email to:
konferencja@warszawadlanajmlodszych.pl