INTRODUÇÃO - Este estudo exploratório apresenta e avalia uma experiência de formação de Agentes Comunitários de Saúde (ACS) do município de Embu das Artes para o uso de Indicadores Clínicos de Risco para o Desenvolvimento Infantil (IRDI). O IRDI é um protocolo de base psicanalítica, validado e inespecífico para diagnóstico, composto de 31 itens que sinalizam a construção da subjetividade do bebê expressa na relação com seus cuidadores. É dividido em quatro etapas do desenvolvimento do bebê: 0-4; 4 a 8; 8 a 12; e 12 a 18 meses. A ausência de dois ou mais indicadores sinaliza tendência para problemas de desenvolvimento ou risco psíquico aos três anos da criança. O IRDI resultou de uma pesquisa realizada entre 2000 e 2008, por psicanalistas do Grupo Nacional de Pesquisadores (GNP), a pedido do Ministério da Saúde. OBJETIVOS - Avaliar as influências da formação para a prática dos ACS e os obstáculos enfrentados; investigar os usos e apropriações do IRDI, situando modos de apropriação com potencial efeito de permanência. METODOLOGIA Foram realizados quatro encontros formativos e o acompanhamento do uso do protocolo pelos ACS ao longo de 2011 e início de 2012. Utilizou-se pré-teste e pós-teste, trabalhados por análise de conteúdo. Os discursos emergentes durante o uso do protocolo foram analisados em uma vertente qualitativa. RESULTADOS 1. A prática dos ACS com bebês é centrada na avaliação do crescimento e em aspectos funcionais do desenvolvimento; 2. O aspecto relacional entre mãe e bebê passou a ser valorizado no decorrer da formação; 3. Influências do protocolo para a prática foram relatadas por 72,5% dos participantes a mais citada foi o aprimoramento da observação e do conhecimento sobre o bebê e seus cuidadores. 4. O protocolo foi utilizado tanto para a detecção como para a orientação à família sobre o contato com o bebê, na perspectiva da Promoção à Saúde. 5. Os itens relativos à primeira faixa do bebê (0 a 4 meses) foram os mais lembrados espontaneamente pelos ACS. 6. Houve dificuldades no manejo com itens referentes ao eixo teórico Alternância Presença-Ausência na relação entre a criança e seu cuidador. 7. O acompanhamento particularizado dos profissionais permitiu manejar as resistências psíquicas, contribuindo para a permanência de participantes. 8. Modos de apropriação favoráveis ocorreram pelo enlaçamento entre aspectos dos indicadores e um traço particular do sujeito. CONCLUSÕES - A inserção do IRDI na Atenção Primária deve considerar um percurso de longo prazo e as particularidades de cada unidade de saúde. É pertinente trabalhar com uma equipe pequena por vez, com formação diversificada. A realização de encontros formativos regulares e acompanhamento particularizado por um profissional psicólogo nos serviços envolvidos é uma proposta que se mostra mais favorável para que seu objetivo se consolide / INTRODUCTION - Exploratory study about an experience of Community Health Agents (CHA) training in the use of Clinical Risk Indicators for Child Development (CRICD) in the town of Embu das Artes. CRICD is a psychoanalytic based protocol, validated and unspecific for diagnosis, composed by 31 items that indicate the occurrence of the construction of the babys subjectivity, expressed in the relation with its caregivers. It is divided in four stages of the babys development: 0 to 4 months; 4 to 8; 8 to 12; and 12 to 18. The absence of two or more indicators signalizes a tendency to developmental problems or psychic risk at the childs age of three. CRICD has resulted from a research carried out between 2000 and 2008 by a group of psychoanalysts named National Group of Research (NGR), by request of the Health Ministry. METHODS - To the realization of this research, four formative encounters were made, plus the follow-up of the use of the protocol in service throughout 2011 and beginning of 2012. The articulation of Public Health and Psychoanalysis has suggested a methodological approach with distinct boundaries. We assessed the influences of the CHAs practical training and the obstacles faced. The uses and appropriations of the CRICD were investigated, placing modes of appropriation with potential effect of permanence. Pre-test and post-test were used for content analysis. The discourses that emerged during the use of the protocol were selected and analyzed according to the qualitative perspective. RESULTS 1.The CHAs practices with babies are centered in growth assessment and in functional aspects of development. 2. The relational aspects became more evident during the training. Among the participants, 3. 72.5% have reported influences of the protocol in their practices, specially the improvement of observation and knowledge of the baby and its caregivers. 4. The CRICD was used to detection as well as to guidance for the families about contact with the baby, in the Promotion of Health perspective. 5. The items of the first group were the most recollected by the CHA. 6. Among the difficulties, we emphasize the handling of the items that refer to the theoretical axe of Alternation Presence-Absence in the relation between the child and its caregiver. 7. The particularized follow-up of the professionals allowed us to handle the psychic resistances, contributing to the permanence of the participants. 8. The favorable modes of appropriation were outlined in the situations in which there was an interface between aspects of the indicators and a particular trace of the subject. CONCLUSION- We suggest that the proposals of insertion of the CRICD in Primary Attention consider a long-term path, undertaken in one health unit per time because the resistances in institutional level have revealed themselves as a challenge. We found to be pertinent to work with a small staff with diverse educational backgrounds, composed of CHA, nursing and pediatric professionals. The most favorable proposal for its aim to be reached is the realization of regular formative encounters with a few months of space between them, during which supervision of the tasks involved is done

Many early childhood learners enter kindergarten not academically and social-emotionally prepared. This qualitative study explored teachers' perceptions of what constitutes high-quality learning concerning kindergarten readiness and parents' understanding and support of kindergarten readiness. The conceptual framework is based on recent studies by early childhood researchers on how and what early learners should experience during their pre-k years. The research questions focused on teachers' understanding of structural quality and process quality, kindergarten readiness, and age- appropriate curriculum. In addition, parents' understanding of kindergarten readiness and what types of learning opportunities they offer their children were examined. Through purposeful sampling, 16 teachers and 17 parents were interviewed from an early childhood site. Interview data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. The data were analyzed by coding and observing for recurrent categories and themes. Key findings indicated that teachers demonstrated a lack of understanding of structural quality and process quality and believed that the current curriculum is outdated and should be replaced to significantly impact student learning. Parents perceived that academics were far more important than social-emotional development and that affording their children learning opportunities outside of school was important. As a result of this study, a professional development program was developed for teachers intended to enhance their instructional practices in preparing early learners towards kindergarten success. Parents will also receive training from teachers to support social-emotional learning opportunities. The training could enable both teachers and parents to better support the cognitive and social-emotional growth of children.

This project used data from the School Readiness Survey (SR) of the 2007 National Household Education Surveys Program collected by the National Center for Education Statistics Institute of Education Science. A subsample of 1,712 to 2,622 subjects who participated in the survey was used for this project. The purpose of the study was to examine parent perceptions, behaviors, and reported child ability related to school readiness and the effect ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) had on each comparison. Variables from the existing data were matched to one of the five domains of School Readiness: Health and Physical Development, Social and Emotional Development, Approaches to Learning, Communication, and General Knowledge. Data were analyzed by means of Pearson correlations and Moderate Multiple Regression analyses. Findings revealed weak, but significant, correlations among parent perceptions, parent behaviors, and parent reported child ability in specific domains. SES and ethnicity were found to be a moderator of parent perceptions and parent behaviors. SES was also shown to affect the relationship between parent behaviors and parent reported child ability in the domains of communication and general knowledge. Several limitations are presented, including possible reasons for the significant but weak results. Findings from this study suggest much more can be learned regarding parent perceptions across ethnicity and SES and the influence it has on school readiness.

The critical role of children’s play in the development of peer relationships, social and communicative skills is reviewed and discussed. The difficulties experienced by a pre-school learner in engaging in peer relationships, communicating successfully in a classroom situation and constructively using play materials was explained. This was done through the use of anecdotal records, checklists, questionnaires, photographic evidence and a semi-structured interview with the learner’s parent. A pre-school play programme, using blocks, dough and puppets (BDP Programme) was devised and used to assess its influence on the acquisition of social and communicative skills by a non-social and non-communicative learner. The study found the BDP Programme to be very successful in assisting this learner to develop peer relationships and communicative skills in the peer group and thus played a critical role in the social development of this learner. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

Crianças e adolescentes de todo o mundo são vítimas de maus-tratos domésticos, sendo a negligência, a modalidade mais recorrente e que se apresenta associada a inúmeras consequências negativas para o desenvolvimento infantil. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo estudar o fenômeno da negligência infantil e suas consequências no plano do desenvolvimento psicossocial e acadêmico de crianças em fase inicial de escolarização no contexto brasileiro, bem como os fatores de risco associados. Para isso, foram investigadas características dos cuidadores e das crianças com idade variando entre seis e oito anos, organizados em três grupos. O primeiro grupo (GRUPO 1) foi formado por casos notificados por negligência ao Conselho Tutelar; o GRUPO 2 foi formado por casos suspeitos de negligência, porém não notificados, tendo por base observações de professores no contexto escolar; o GRUPO 3 foi formado também a partir de indicações de professores de crianças sem suspeitas de maus-tratos/negligência (grupo de referência). Cada grupo foi constituído por 30 díades de crianças-cuidadores. Realizados os procedimentos relativos às normas éticas, foi efetuado o contato com o Conselho Tutelar, as escolas e as famílias. Obtidas as devidas autorizações, procedeu-se à coleta de dados, utilizando-se os instrumentos: Questionário de Caracterização Sociodemográfica; Inventário de Potencial de Maus-tratos Infantis (CAP); Child Neglect Index; Inventário de Comportamentos da Criança e Adolescente - 6 a 18 anos (CBCL); Inventário de Comportamentos da Criança e Adolescente/ Relatório para Professores - 6 a 18 anos (TRF) e Teste de Desempenho Escolar (TDE). Para descrever o perfil da amostra por grupos realizaram-se análises estatísticas. Os resultados mostraram diferença significativa entre os GRUPOS 1 e 2 (similares entre si) com relação ao GRUPO 3 no plano de diversas variáveis de caracterização, concebidas como fatores de risco, destacando-se mais baixo status socioeconômico das famílias, menor nível de escolaridade dos cuidadores, e a menor idade em que as mães teriam tido o primeiro filho. No mais, os cuidadores dos GRUPOS 1 e 2 também apresentaram maior potencial de risco para o abuso/negligência e suas práticas parentais caracterizam-se pela presença de mais indicadores de negligência, em comparação ao GRUPO 3. Com relação aos aspectos do desenvolvimento infantil e do desempenho escolar, as crianças dos GRUPOS 1 e 2 apresentaram, em sua maioria, escores similares que, de modo geral, indicaram déficits em diversos aspectos desenvolvimentais e dificuldades de aprendizagem no início da escolarização. Com base nesses resultados, pode-se concluir que as crianças notificadas por negligência, bem como as suspeitas de viverem essa problemática, manifestam igualmente problemas desenvolvimentais significativos em uma etapa muito sensível, o início da escolarização, o que suscita enorme preocupação, pois a não superação destes aumenta a possibilidade dessas crianças enfrentarem desafios cada vez maiores. O cenário descrito pelo presente estudo impõe a necessidade de investimentos na prevenção da negligência infantil, seja em termos de investigação científica, seja no que se refere às medidas de proteção. / Children and youths around the world are victims of domestic abuse, negligence being the most recurring category, which is associated with several harmful consequences for childhood development. The aims of this thesis were to investigate the phenomenon of childhood neglect and its consequences to the psychosocial and academic development of children in the initial stage of schooling in Brazil as well as the associated risk factors. To accomplish these objectives, the features of the caregivers and children with ages ranging from six to eight, were investigated which was organized in three groups. The first group (group 1) was formed by cases of neglect notified to the Child Protection Council; the second group (group 2) was formed by suspect cases of neglect, but not notified to the Child Protection Council, based on their school teachers´ observation; the third group (group 3) was also formed by indications of the school teachers, but by children not suspected to be neglected (reference group). Each group consisted of thirty dyads of child- caretaker. After carrying out all the relative procedures to the ethical issues, the Child Protection Council, schools and children were contacted. After obtaining the necessary authorizations, the data collection was accomplished, through the following instruments: Questionário de Caracterização Sociodemográfica (socio-demographic questionnaire); Child Abuse Potential Inventory - CAP; Child Neglect Index; Child and Youth Behavior Inventory, 6-18 years - CBCL; Child and Youth Behavior Inventory, 6-18 years/Teacher Report Form -TRF and Teste de Desempenho Escolar - TDE (School performance test). To describe the sample\'s profile of the groups, statistical analyses were performed. The results show similarities between groups 1 and 2, which, in contrast, are quite different from group 3 concerning several characterization variables. They are conceived as risk factors, highlighting families with lower socioeconomic status, lower education level of the caregivers and the lowest age of the mothers when the first child was born. Moreover, the caregivers of groups 1 and 2 also show higher potential risks for abuse than those of group 3. Furthermore, more neglect indicators were found in groups 1 and 2 than in group 3. Concerning the childhood development aspects and academic performances, children of groups 1 and 2, in general, show similar results, having shortfalls in several developmental aspects and learning difficulties at the beginning of the literacy stage. Based on these results, one can conclude that children notified as neglected and those of suspect cases expressed equally significant developmental problems during a sensitive period of their lives, the beginning of the literacy, giving rise to a huge concern since failure at this stage increases the chances of major drawbacks in their future. The scenario revealed by the present study points out the necessity of investments in children negligence prevention, supporting both scientific investigations and protective actions.

O Transtorno de Déficit de Atenção e Hiperatividade (TDAH) é um dos transtornos de maior prevalência na infância e adolescência. Pesquisas recentes demonstram que, ao menos do ponto de vista cognitivo, existem diferenças importantes no desenvolvimento de crianças com TDAH quando comparadas com crianças sem qualquer diagnóstico psiquiátrico. O presente trabalho pretende contribuir para o campo de pesquisa sobre o TDAH, buscando uma compreensão mais dinâmica deste transtorno, ultrapassando o nível descritivo dos sintomas, incorporando aspectos da Psicologia do Desenvolvimento. Acreditamos que a teoria de Piaget acerca do desenvolvimento psicológico, do processo de transição do estágio pré-operatório para o estágio operatório concreto de desenvolvimento, é um subsídio teórico importante para a compreensão deste transtorno, em especial a construção operatória da noção de tempo. A hipótese geral foi a de que crianças com TDAH apresentariam déficits no desenvolvimento de noções operatórias, como a conservação, reversibilidade e apreensão temporal. Foram entrevistadas 62 crianças, com idades entre 6 a 12 anos, subdividas em dois grupos: uma amostra clínica de crianças diagnosticadas com TDAH (n=32), e uma amostra de crianças sem diagnóstico (grupo controle, n=30). A amostra clínica foi também dividida entre crianças que faziam uso de metilfenidato, e crianças não medicadas, com o intuito de observar se a medicação exerceria alguma influência no desempenho das crianças em provas piagetianas. Para a composição dos grupos, foi utilizada a K-SADS-PL, elaborada segundo os critérios do DSM-IV. Com o objetivo de avaliar os níveis de desatenção e hiperatividade, os pais e/ou responsáveis responderam a dois questionários: a versão abreviada do questionário de Conners, e o Inventário dos Comportamentos de Crianças e Adolescentes entre 6 e 18 anos (CBCL). Tendo como referência a entrevista clínica de Piaget, foram aplicadas as seguintes provas piagetianas: Conservação das quantidades discretas; Mudança de critério dicotomia; as provas de Sucessão dos Acontecimentos Percebidos e da Simultaneidade, e O tempo da ação própria e a duração interior. Os resultados demonstram haver diferença estatisticamente significativa entre o desempenho das crianças dos diferentes grupos, para as provas piagetianas como um todo (p < 0,001), e, quando analisadas separadamente, para as provas de Conservação de Quantidades Discretas (p = 0,003), Simultaneidade (p = 0,004), e O tempo da ação própria e a duração interior (p < 0,001). Crianças com TDAH apresentaram uma tendência a terem suas respostas classificadas em níveis inferiores ao esperado, quando comparadas ao grupo controle. Em relação ao uso do metilfenidato na amostra clínica, não foi observada diferença significativa entre os grupos. Apesar importante no tratamento, o metilfenidato não demonstrou ser suficiente para potencializar o desenvolvimento cognitivo de crianças com TDAH, superando os déficits observados. Esses achados corroboram a hipótese de déficit na aquisição das noções operatórias em crianças com TDAH. Assim, são necessárias novas reflexões a respeito do TDAH, considerando alternativas de intervenções que considerem os déficits observados, ultrapassando o tratamento medicamentoso. / Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent disorders in childhood and adolescence. Recent research shows that, at least from a cognitive level, there are important differences in the development of children with ADHD when compared with children without any psychiatric diagnosis. This work aims to contribute to the field of research on ADHD, seeking a more dynamic understanding of this disorder, surpassing the descriptive level of symptoms, incorporating aspects of Developmental Psychology. We believe that Piaget´s theory about the psychological development, the process of transition from pre-operative stage to concrete operative stage of development, is important for the theoretical understanding of this disorder, especially the construction of the operative notion of time. The general hypothesis was that children with ADHD present deficits in the development of operational concepts, such as conservation, reversibility and temporal seizure. Sixty two children, aged 6 to 12 years, were interviewed, and subdivided into two groups: a clinical sample of children diagnosed with ADHD (n = 32) and a sample composed by children without diagnosis (control group, n = 30). The clinical sample was divided between children who made use of methylphenidate, and children non-medicated, in order to see if the medication did some influence on the children´s performance in piagetian tasks. For the composition of groups, the K-SADS-PL was utilized, prepared according to the DSM-IV criteria. To assess the levels of inattention and hyperactivity, the parents and / or guardians answered two questionnaires: Conners´ Abbreviated Parents Rating Scale, and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). According to the Piaget´s clinical interview, the following tasks were applied: Conservation of discrete quantities; Change of criteria - dichotomy; the tasks Succession of Events Perceived; Simultaneity, and The time of the action and the internal duration. Results show statistically significant differences between the performance of children from different groups, for piagetians tasks as a whole (p <0001) and, when analyzed separately, for the tasks Conservation of Discrete Quantities (p = 0003), Simultaneity, (p = 0004), and The time of the action and the internal duration. (p <0001). Children with ADHD showed a tendency to take their responses classified at levels lower than expected when compared to the control group. Regarding the use of methylphenidate in the clinical sample, there was no significant difference between groups. Although necessary of treatment, methylphenidate has not be sufficient to enhance the cognitive development of children with ADHD, overcoming the deficits observed. These findings support the hypothesis of deficits in the acquisition of concepts operative in children with ADHD. This calls for new thinking about the ADHD, considering alternatives for interventions that consider the deficits observed, surpassing the drug treatment.

Because music is sound, the development of the young child's musical intelligence is integrally linked to his/her auditive development. By neglecting to develop the child's musical intelligence, and in particular by neglecting the age-controlled auditive development of the young child, essential learning stages may be missed. It is therefore encouraging that the government has stated its intention to introduce a compulsory reseption year (Grade 0) for five to six year old children. There is, however, at present no comprehensive pre-school music education programme available which specifically focuses on the auditive development of the child in the process of developing his/her musical intelligence. In this study, a comprehensive music education programme based on the praxial philosophy of music education has been compiled. It promotes procedural knowledge (making music), without negating propositional knowledge (knowing about music). It is hoped that the study will assist the class teacher as well as the music specialist as they strive to develop the musical intelligences of South Africa's pre-school children. / Thesis (MMus)--University of Pretoria, 2004. / Music / unrestricted

The main concern of this thesis was to investigate the possibility of implementing a Western Classical music listening programme for teacher training through integrated arts in Early Childhood Development (ECD). The outcome of this thesis suggests that it is possible to train musically untrained teachers at a one-day practical workshop how to introduce young learners in an acceptable and enjoyable way to Western Classical music. At these workshops, teachers had to dress up in homemade fantasy outfits to depict different characters in stories to music which they had to dramatize. The costumes turned the listening activity into a fun-filled experience which ensured the success of the training. The teachers were mostly generalists without any previous specialized music training. These teachers needed knowledge and skills to integrate the arts in the Early Childhood learning programme. In this programme, a selection of Western Classical music pieces is vividly brought to life through storytelling, dramatization, creative dance movements, instrumental play and the visual arts. Example lessons from the proposed listening programme were implemented during a pilot study in Mauritius with Creole and French speaking ECD teachers who were unfamiliar with Western Classical music. It became evident through the main research study that took place in underprivileged areas in Gauteng, Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces in South Africa that most black African teachers were also unfamiliar with this music style. Both the pilot study and the main research showed that the methodology of the proposed listening programme is suitable for the training of ECD teachers from different cultures and language groups. Teachers in remote areas made it their responsibility to look for, find or fabricate resources for costumes they could not afford. It has proved to be an effective method that can be implemented at grass-roots level in underprivileged areas and used as a guideline for the integration of the arts throughout South Africa and other countries. The study concludes with recommendations to implement the proposed listening programme at all primary schools in South Africa. / Thesis (DMus)--University of Pretoria, 2007. / Music / DMus / unrestricted

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of early familial influences on the development of young adults' emotional intelligence. It was hypothesized that attachment security would be positively and significantly related to emotional intelligence, and conversely, that insecure attachment would be inversely related to emotional intelligence.

By 2010, it is projected that there will be 25 million orphans worldwide. It is anticipated that 2.3 million children will be orphaned due to AIDS in South Africa by 2020. Traditionally, the extended family has absorbed most people affected by the disease but there is a growing concern that families are finding it increasingly difficult to cope, perhaps reaching saturation point. In the absence of alternatives, some children end up living alone in child-headed households (CHHs), the numbers of which are rising at an alarming rate. Despite the increase in this living arrangement research is scarce on the psychosocial consequences of AIDS related orphanhood. This is more evident concerning very young orphans living in CHHs. This qualitative study explores psychosocial issues pertaining to young orphans living in CHHs from an ecosystemic perspective. Four participants, who worked in various capacities for two non-governmental organisations, were interviewed in-depth about their experiences of working with young orphans. The conversations were subjected to an interpretive analysis where, in collaboration with the participants, central themes and sub-themes were identified. Eleven main themes emerged from the analysis: why children live in child-headed households; issues surrounding the death of a parent; experiences of a young child living in a child-headed household; the experience of living in a child-headed household; stigma; relationships with relatives; relationships with peers; relationships with crèches and teachers; relationships with the community; relationships with non-governmental organisations; and relationship to government and essential services. Based on an integration of the findings, a model was presented depicting the ecosytemic factors affecting the very young child living in a CHH. Copyright / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / unrestricted