For happy children with a visual or visual-and-intellectual disability: Efficacy research to promote sensitive caregiving with the Barti-mat

Cycles of miscommunication often occur within the caregiver–child dyad when a child has a visual or visual-and-intellectual disability, influencing sensitive and responsive caregiver behaviour and child happiness. This study aims to examine the efficacy of using interactive technology, the Barti-mat, to promote sensitive and responsive caregiver behaviour, specifically mirroring behaviour, and increase the happiness of children with a visual or visual-and-intellectual disability. The secondary aim is to examine the social validity of the Barti-mat. A mixed-method approach was used, combining quantitative data from a multiple within-series single-case design and qualitative data comparing play-as-usual with play on the Barti-mat. Eleven caregiver–child dyads participated in a home-based study. No significant effects were found for Attunement nor for Valence. Significant improvements were found for Total Mirroring, Happiness, and Arousal. Overall, the caregivers enjoyed using the Bart-mat and were enthusiastic about the development of specialized play material for children with visual impairments. Results of the current study suggest that the Barti-mat can act as catalyst for caregiver mirroring behaviour and improve the happiness of a child with a visual or visual-and-intellectual disability. Caregivers were generally motivated to use and recommend the Barti-mat again. Minor product improvement recommendations were made. The Barti-mat is appropriate for a diverse group of caregivers and children with a visual or visual-and-intellectual disability and would be a good adjunct to preventive attachment-based interventions.

Towards a New Model of Dream Interpretation?

The discussion of an analytic session which includes the dream of a patient is followed by some theoretical reflections on contemporary dream interpretation in clinical psychoanalysis. The approach to dreams is increasingly intersubjective and relational. The focus is more on the dream as a curtain of illusion. Contemporary analysts are focused on the unconscious message in the dream about transference-countertransference dynamics, the functioning of the analyst and his way of intervening, the use of the dream as play material, the portrayal of the unconscious intrapsychic and relational situation, countertransference dreams and sequential dreams. The way of working with dreams is much influenced by the work of Bion and his followers.

A BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS OF THE GRADUATE THESES ON “TOY”

On the one hand, toy is considered as a miniaturized form of objects used by adult people, on the other hand, it refers to materials used as a game tool. However, while the tools used by adult people in their plays are accepted as play materials; the tools that children use while playing play function as toys. In this respect, the toy is the most important part of the child’s plays. For this reason, in this study, the materials used by children in their plays have been accepted as toys and the study has been conducted in this direction. In recent years, with the importance of the child in the tourism sector, child-friendly tourism and child-friendley hotels have been investigated in the tourism literature. Within the scope of this research, the literature review method has been used as a data collection tool and the scans have been conducted in the context of the words “toy”, “play material”, “play object” and “play tool”. By scanning, 100 master and doctoral theses in the database of the Council of Higher Education National Thesis Center and open to access have been reached, and these graduate theses have been subjected to bibliometric analysis. This analysis has been carried out in line with the data parameters specified for bibliometric analysis in the literature. The analysis process was carried out between 13 January and 27 January 2021, and the Excel file was used in the analysis. The findings obtained as a result of the analysis are presented in six stages in the study. According to the results obtained in line with the findings, the importance given to toys has increased with each passing year, toy has become a multidisciplinary study subject and has been subject to different study areas. However, despite the importance of children in tourism and the subject of toys in many different fields, it has been observed that the subject of toys has not yet been reflected in the graduate theses written in Tourism Management Departments. Therefore, this study is expected to be a guide for the tourism field.

Teachers training for arranging a developing subject-space environment in a preschool organization

The analysis of the subject-space developmental environment of the preschool educational organization included several components. Among them, we outline the assessment of the quality of the subject-space developmental environment created in each age group of the kindergarten for the general development of children. The next component is taking into account kindergarteners’ self-assessment of the correspondence of the subject-space developmental environment of the kindergarten groups to the principles of its organization. The results of the assessment of the quality of the subject-spatial developmental environment, created in each age group of the kindergarten for general development, carried out by teachers, are presented. The results of studying the potential of a preschool institution are described. It is noted that teachers highly appreciate the capabilities of the preschool institution in terms of safety, accessibility of the location of objects and manuals for children. Teachers highly appreciate the subject space in terms of stimulating various types of children’s activities, as well as the availability of zones and equipment, play material for play, cognitive, artistic and aesthetic activities.

Using social robot PLEO to enhance the well-being of hospitalised children

Hospitalisation is stressful for children. Play material is often offered for distraction and comfort. We explored how contact with social robot PLEO could positively affect a child’s well-being. To this end, we performed a multiple case study on the paediatric ward of two hospitals. Child life specialists offered PLEO as a therapeutic activity to children in a personalised way for a well-being related purpose in three to five play like activity sessions during hospital visits/stay. Robot–child interaction was observed; care professionals, children and parents were interviewed. Applying direct content analysis revealed six categories of interest: interaction with PLEO, role of the adults, preferences for PLEO, PLEO as buddy, attainment of predetermined goal(s) and deployment of PLEO. Four girls and five boys, aged 4–13, had PLEO offered as a relief from stress or boredom or for physical stimulation. All but one started interacting with PLEO and showed behaviours like hugging, caring or technical exploration, promoting relaxation, activation and/or making contact. Interaction with PLEO contributed to achieving the well-being related purpose for six of them. PLEO was perceived as attractive to elicit play. Although data are limited, promising results emerge that the well-being of hospitalised children might be fostered by a personalised PLEO offer.

Characteristics of Role Substitution in Preschooler’s Play with Different Materials Psychological-Educational Studies

The paper compares the role play of preschool children from 3 to 7 years with two different types of play material: play clothes and open-ended materials. The role is understood as a three-part process, including renaming, changing the appearance and playing actions. It is shown that role substitution depends on the object environment: children of the same age play differently in two different object environments. Children 3-5 years demonstrate more integral play in open-ended environment. They call themselves a role-name and their actions and changing the appearance often support it. In comparison children of this age often rename themselves, but rarely realize a new name in play actions in environment with play clothes. Role substitution of children of 6 years are different: children do not play in a open-ended environment, but they realize plots with varying degrees of complexity in play clothes' environment. It could be explained by the structured environment is much safer for this age group. It concluded that open-ended environment is more suitable for play needs of preschool children, because role substitution is accompanied by research, testing activity, which fill the role with emotionally content.

På leit etter grunnlag for norske barnehagers matematikkdidaktiske arbeid med romforståelse. - Et systematisk søk på forskning om barns utvikling av romforståelse gjort i barnehagekonteksten 1995-2010

A review of research on children’s development of spatial reasoning in a preschool setting 1995-2010. This study reviews 16 journal articles, books and theses on spatial reasoning in early childhood mathematics education. The data was collected by way of systematical search in several major databases and relevant digital and non-digital journals. The article gives a brief presentation of the main findings and the different methods used and, if applicable, the authors’ focus on didactics in both method and analysis. When it comes to children’s mathematical learning processes, a main focus for a majority of studies is children’s use of constructional play material. When it comes to preschool teachers’ work with spatial reasoning, most studies focus on the teachers’ planned and spontaneous communication with the children. The article then goes on to discuss these findings in relation to the Norwegian Framework Plan for Kindergartens. It seems like future research on the teachers’ use of material, on their work with visualization and orientation, and on their general focus on spatial reasoning could gain curriculum practise. Sammendrag: Denne oversiktsartikkelen gir en presentasjon av 16 internasjonale forskningsarbeider som ser på barns romforståelse i en barnehagekontekst. Arbeidene består av 14 vitenskapelige artikler, en bok og en doktorgrad, og disse ble funnet gjennom systematiske søk i flere større databaser og relevante digitale og analoge tidsskrift. Artikkelen gir en kort presentasjon av de ulike arbeidenes metode, hovedfunn og didaktiske vinkling. Når det gjelder barns utvikling av romforståelse har en majoritet av studiene fokus på hvordan dette kan belyses ved å studere og stimulere barns konstruksjonslek. For de studiene som ser på pedagogens rolle i arbeid med romforståelse legges det mest vekt på kommunikasjon, både planlagt og spontan kommunikasjon. Oversiktsartikkelen drøfter deretter hvilken betydning disse arbeidene kan ha for arbeidet med romforståelse i norske barnehager. Det kan se ut som at videre forskning bør vektlegge barnehagelærerens bruk av materiell, hvordan man planlegger arbeid med visualisering og orientering, og hvordan et økt fokus på romforståelse kan støtte barnehagelærerens arbeid med å iverksette den norske rammeplanens intensjoner på området.

Clinical approach to developmental neurology

The objectives and principles of neurological history and examination in children are the same as those in adults. This chapter therefore, will not provide an all-encompassing description of the neurological assessment of children, but highlights where the approach must differ substantially from that used in adults. Further it aims to provide a practical and useful approach to the examination of children, who may be preverbal and certainly will show less stamina for cooperation than adults. Of course as children get older, the examination can become more conventional and systematized. By adolescence the examination can be the same as the adult examination.The first and overriding factor for success is to be flexible and to make observations when the opportunity arises rather than to wait for abnormalities to arise during the course of a more systematic approach. Nonetheless a systematic approach to recording these results is essential, so as to bring together related observations made disparately in time. The history is of paramount importance in guiding the examination. Since it is unlikely that you will be able to complete a full examination, it is important to prioritize the observations needed in light of a differential diagnosis before you begin examining. Rather than rushing straight into the examination it is rewarding to gain a young child’s confidence by playing briefly with them. Also, instead of insisting on examining the child on a couch, it helps to become adept at examining young children on their parent’s or caretaker’s knee. Finally, no matter how cooperative a child is, potentially disturbing investigations should be left until last, including tendon reflexes or examination of the tongue, fundi, and ears. Otherwise all subsequent cooperation from the child may be lost after these examinations.The examination room environment is the key to a successful neurological examination and requires careful thought. There should be sufficient space to accommodate families and for the children to play. The room needs to be friendly and conducive to encouraging play. It needs to be equipped with carefully selected toys, pictures, pencils and paper, and books of interest to children over a wide age range. Observation of the child’s play whilst you are taking a history from the parents or caregivers will allow assessment of the child’s motor skills and developmental stage. Their use of play material can yield important clues to the nature of a deficit, by revealing ataxia, weakness, involuntary movements, tics, or spasticity. Play also provides an opportunity to assess the child’s behaviour, for instance their impulsivity, distractibility, and attention span. Interaction of the child with parents or caregivers can be observed also. If the child participates actively in the history taking, their understanding and contribution to the session allows you to make assessments of their language and intellectual skills.