This diploma thesis deals with the Lapbook teaching method and its use to develop reading literacy for preschool-age children. The aim is to develop a deeper understanding of the text read by children and their creation of their own interactive book. The work presents an integrative project that is to stimulate children's interest in literature, understanding the story through appropriately selected activities and get acquainted with the entire process of making a Lapbook. The work is divided into theoretical and practical part. The theoretical part characterizes in general reading literacy, reading pre-literacy and its anchoring in the Framework Educational Program for Preschool Education. Furthermore, the characteristics of the period in terms of the child's development and the development of reading skills, the factors influencing reading, such as the influence of family or kindergarten, and the prerequisites for the development of reading literacy. The topic is also the importance of the book for preschool children and reading strategies with a focus on the E - U - R model (evocation - awareness of meaning - reflection). Finally, it deals with the definition of the Lapbook teaching method and instructions for its production. The practical part is based on action research, which was focused on...

Les enfants de moins de 6 ans avec asthme présentent des exacerbations fréquentes et sévères conduisant à de nombreuses consultations aux urgences et hospitalisations. Éduquer les parents à prendre en charge précocement les exacerbations d’asthme de leurs enfants pourrait permettre de réduire ces recours aux soins. Les serious games représentent un outil intéressant dans ce cadre du fait de l’apprentissage actif et expérientiel qu’ils promeuvent. L’objectif de cette thèse était de concevoir et développer un serious game permettant aux parents d’enfants de moins de 6 ans avec asthme de s’entraîner à prendre en charge une exacerbation d’asthme débutant à domicile. La revue systématique de la littérature que nous avons menée n’a identifié aucun serious game à destination des parents d’enfants avec asthme. Pourtant nous avons montré que ces parents étaient prêts à utiliser de tels outils. Les comportements des parents au cours d’une exacerbation d’asthme de leur enfant ont été observés au cours d’une étude de simulation, et analysés afin de définir les objectifs pédagogiques et le contenu du serious game. La meilleure manière d’utiliser le futur serious game en temps limité a également fait l’objet d’une étude comparant deux stratégies (répéter trois fois le même scénario d’exacerbation versus utiliser trois scénarios différents). L’ensemble de ces résultats, alliés à ceux de la littérature déjà existante, ont permis de développer le simulation game « Effic’Asthme » selon une approche fondée sur les preuves. La dernière étape correspondra à l’évaluation d’Effic’Asthme via une étude randomisée contrôlée multicentrique. / Asthma in preschool children (5 years or younger) is characterized by severe and frequent exacerbations, leading to high rates of emergency department visits and hospital admissions. Teaching parents the early management of asthma exacerbations at home might reduce healthcare use. Serious games, because they allow active and experiential learning, represent an interesting way to train parents on the management of asthma exacerbations. The objective of this PhD thesis was to design and develop a serious game to teach parents of preschool children the management of asthma exacerbations starting at home. We conducted a systematic review of serious games for asthma education which revealed that no serious game had been developed for parents. Yet, we showed using questionnaires that parents were ready to use serious games for their education. Parents’ behavior during asthma exacerbations of their children were observed during a simulation study using a pediatric high-fidelity manikin, and analyzed to establish the educational objectives and the content of the serious game. Another study compared two different strategies (repeating the same scenario three times or using three different scenarios of asthma exacerbations) to teach the management of asthma exacerbations in a short, 30-minutes training. Altogether, these results combined with those of the literature allowed the development of the simulation game “Effic’Asthme” following an evidence-based approach. The usefulness of “Effic’Asthme” will be evaluated through a multicentric randomized controlled study.

Language skills increase as the brain matures and language specialization is linked to the left hemisphere. Among distinct language domains, sentence comprehension is particularly vital in language acquisition and, by comparison, requires a much longer time-span before full mastery in children. Although accumulating studies have revealed the neural mechanism underlying sentence comprehension acquisition, the development of the brain’s gray matter and its relation to sentence comprehension had not been fully understood. This thesis employs structural magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging data to investigate the neural correlates of sentence comprehension in preschoolers both cross-sectionally and longitudinally. The first study examines how cortical thick- ness covariance is relevant for syntax in preschoolers and changes across development. Results suggest that the cortical thickness covariance of brain regions relevant for syntax increases from preschoolers to adults, whilst preschoolers with superior language abilities show a more adult-like covariance pattern. Reconstructing the white matter fiber tract connecting the left inferior frontal and superior temporal cortices using diffusion-weighted imaging data, the second study suggests that the reduced cortical thickness covariance in the left frontotemporal regions is likely due to immature white matter connectivity during preschool. The third study then investigated the cortical thickness asymmetry and its relation to sentence comprehension abilities. Results show that longitudinal cortical thick- ness asymmetry in the inferior frontal cortex was associated with improvements in sentence comprehension, further suggesting the crucial role of the inferior frontal cortex for sentence comprehension acquisition. Taken together, evidence from gray and white matter data provides new insights into the neuroscientific model of language acquisition and the emergence of syntactic processing during language development.

This diploma thesis focuses on improving reading literacy in preschool children in cooperation between family and kindergarten. The theoretical part is devoted to the concept of a preschool child, taking into account his psychological development, the cooperation of the kindergarten with the family, family itself, reading literacy and methods of its development. Through action research, the practical part focuses on mapping parents' work with children at home using intervention activities to improve parents' understanding of book working methods and the use of reading strategies that help building a positive relationship with books and improve text comprehension, and then evaluate the impact of these activities on parents and their effort to stimulate reading in children. The proposed lessons devoted to the development of reading literacy were implemented with children in the presence of their parents and the aim was to show the possibilities of working with a book through specific activities that will help building interest in books and comprehension of the read text. Due to the implementation of five lessons, progress has been made, which can be recognized from the reflective questionnaires that were completed before and after the lessons. The information from the questionnaires is gathered into...

SAMMANFATTNING Bakgrund: Förstoppning är ett vanligt återkommande problem hos barn och kan uppträda som  diffusa symtom som magont, irritabilitet, uppblåst buk och minskad aptit. Tillståndet kan skapa  stress i familjen vilket resulterar i en ond cirkel som blir allt svårare att ta sig ur. I dagens samhälle samt för många föräldrar är “att bajsa på sig” förknippat med skuld och skam. Symtom som avföringsläckage, förstoppningsdiarré samt sängvätning gör anamnesen svårtolkad och symtombilden omfattande. Att se sitt barn lida av både fysiska och psykiska besvär på grund av förstoppningen är påfrestande för föräldern.   Syfte: Syftet är att beskriva vilka egenvårdsråd samt vilket stöd som sjuksköterskan kan ge till föräldrar vid förstoppningsproblematik hos barn i åldrarna 2-17 år. Metod: En deskriptiv design med kvantitativ ansats och litteraturstudie som metod användes för att besvara syftet. Resultatet baseras på 11 kvantitativa originalartiklar. Resultat: Resultatet delades in i tre delar, vilket var information, rekommendationer och uppföljning. Information behövs för tidig identifiering samt för att barnet och föräldrar kan känna igen symtom men även veta varför de uppkommer. Då riskfaktorer som stillasittande, ohälsosamma livsstilsvanor, lågt intag av grönsaker, frukt, fibrer och vätska ökar prevalensen av förstoppning behövs rekommendationer då dessa riskfaktorer kan påverkas hemifrån av barnets föräldrar genom egenvårdsråd och stöd från sjuksköterska. För att undvika återkommande förstoppning är uppföljning en viktig del av behandlingen. I samtliga delar har sjuksköterskan en nyckelroll för ett lyckat resultat.  Slutsats: Det visade sig att egenvårdsråd, stöd och information i ett tidigt skede leder till ökad förståelse, stärkt självförtroende samt hur kostvanor och fysisk aktivitet påverkar tillståndet. / ABSTRACT Background: Constipation is a common recurring problem in children and can occur as diffuse  symptoms such as stomach pain, irritability, bloated abdomen and decreased appetite.  The condition can create stress in the family, which results in a vicious circle that becomes increasingly difficult to get out of. In today's society and for many parents, "accidentally pooped in their trousers” is associated with guilt and shame. Symptoms such as soiling, stool diarrhea and bedwetting make the anamnesis difficult to interpret and the symptom picture extensive. To see your child suffering from physical and mental disorders due to constipation are stressful for the parent.   Aim: The aim with this study was to describe self care advice and what kind of support a nurse could give the parents of constipated children aged 2-17 years.   Methods: A descriptive design with a quantitative approach and literature study as a method is used to answer the purpose. The result is based on 11 quantitative original articles. Results: The result of this study was divided up in categories such as information, recommendation and follow up. Parents and children need information for early identification of symptoms and why they appear, but also knowledge about risk factors such as sedentary, unhealthy lifestyle habits, low intake of vegetables, fruits, fiber and fluids increase the prevalence of constipation. These risk factors can be influenced by the parents of the children at home through self-care advice and support from a nurse. To avoid recurrent constipation, follow-up is an important part of the treatment. In all parts, the nurse has a key role to play in a successful outcome.   Conclusion: It turned out that self-care advice, support and information in an early stage leads to an increased understanding of the condition, strengthened self-confidence and the effects of diet and physical activity as well.

The purpose of the study was to investigate how teachers and teaching assistants work with gender roles and vocational pattern among the children in preschool. To find out, a qualitative survey was conducted in the form of 11 interviews with preschool teachers and assistant personnel, who worked with children aged 1-6 years. The teachers and assistants worked in different areas and had differentlevels of education. The collected data was categorized into different themes based on the research questions. The material was analyzed based on Gottfredsson´s theory of circumscription and compromise, Hirdman´s theory of gender and also on earlier research. The result showed that the staff did not consciously work with the professions in preschool, but on the other hand unconsciously in different projects and themes. The children did not play vocations very often and children in vulnerable areas did not play vocations at all. Furthermore, the result of the study showed that most preschool-staff worked to achieve as gender-neutral-environment as possible, because preschool-staff considered that the indoor environment and material things affected the children to gender stereotypes. The study found that the forest is a gender-neutral environment in which cross-border-activities were established. Our conclusion of the study showed that the staff did not notice gender stereotypes among children playing vocations, although earlier research and theory show that these patterns develop at an early age. Furthermore, we concluded that preschool-staff lack knowledge about the methods and tools that best suit the work on gender issues and gender stereotypes. This has meant that the work and attitude of the staff varied. Personnel without preschool education and who worked for a long time have difficulty breaking old routines, where boys and girls are treated differently. / Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur pedagoger arbetar med könsstereotypa roller ochyrkesmönster bland barnen i förskolan. För att ta reda på detta gjordes en kvalitativ undersökning iform av 11 intervjuer med förskolepedagoger som arbetade med barn i åldern 1-6 år. Pedagogernaarbetade i olika upptagningsområden och hade olika utbildningsnivåer. Insamlad data kategoriseradesin i olika teman med utgångspunkt i frågeställningarna. Materialet analyserades utifrån Gottfredssonsteori om begränsningar och kompromisser, Hirdmans teori om genussystemet och tidigare gjordforskning. Resultatet visade att pedagogerna inte medvetet arbetade med yrken i förskolan, mendäremot omedvetet i olika projekt och teman. Barnen lekte inte yrken särskilt ofta och barn i utsattaupptagningsområden lekte överhuvudtaget inte yrken. Vidare visade resultatet av undersökningen attde flesta pedagoger arbetade för att få till en så könsneutral förskolemiljö som möjligt, då pedagogernaansåg att inomhusmiljön och materiella ting påverkar barnen till könsstereotypa mönster. I studienframkom att skogen är en könsneutral miljö där gränsöverskridande aktiviteter kom till stånd. Vårslutsats av undersökningen, visade att pedagogerna inte lagt märke till könsstereotypa yrkesmönsterbland barn, trots att tidigare forskning och teori påvisar att dessa mönster utvecklas i tidig ålder.Vidare drog vi slutsatsen att pedagoger saknar kunskap om vilka metoder och verktyg som bäst lämparsig vid arbetet med genusfrågor och könsstereotypa mönster. Det har gjort att arbets- ochförhållningssätt bland pedagogerna varierat. Personal utan förskoleutbildning och som arbetat längehar svårt att bryta gamla rutiner, där pojkar särbehandlas.

AbstractEngelska översättning.  The aim of the study is to contribute with knowledge about how a designed teaching can give children a greater understanding of technical systems, sewage system. The study is inspired by the Lesson Study method. Lesson study is a teaching arrangement done in cycles. In this study, two teachings are conducted, about the sewage system, with two different groups of children and with a certain variation in the arrangements. The results show that the children have gained an understanding of the connections between the parts and components that the technical system, sewage system, is constructed of. The data collection was carried out through observation and filming at both teaching sessions. The material was then transcribed and analyzed through a thematic analysis method. The flexibility of the analysis method provided opportunities to respond to the study's purpose and questions. The analysis resulted in three themes: relationships between components of the system, the role of humans in the system, the components of the system. The study's conclusion shows that preschool teachers offer several activities with relevant construction materials that can clarify abstract learning objects in order to reach children’s learning. At the same time, more research is needed on how children learn and create an understanding of technical systems, how they can perceive the connections between the components that exist and constitute a technical system. / Syftet med studien är att bidra med kunskap om hur en designad undervisningkan erbjuda barn ökad förståelse för tekniska system, avloppssystem. Studienär inspirerad av metoden lesson study. Lesson study är ettundervisningsupplägg som görs i cykler. I denna studie genomförs tvåundervisningar, om avloppssystemet, med två olika barngrupper och med enviss variation i uppläggen. Resultatet visar att barnen fått förståelse försambanden mellan de delar och komponenter som det tekniska systemet,avloppssystem, är konstruerade av. Datainsamlingen genomfördes genomobservation och filmning vid båda undervisningstillfällena. Däreftertranskriberades och analyserades materialet genom en tematisk analysmetod.Analysmetodens flexibilitet gav möjligheter att svara gentemot studiens syfteoch frågeställningar. Analysen resulterade i tre teman: Samband mellankomponenter i systemet, Människans roll i systemet, Systemets komponenter.Studiens slutsats påvisar att förskollärare som erbjuder flera aktiviteter medrelevant konstruktionsmaterial som kan tydliggöra abstrakta lärandeobjekt föratt nå barns lärande. Det krävs mer forskning om hur barn lär och skaparförståelse för tekniska system, hur de kan uppfatta sambanden mellan dekomponenter som finns och utgör ett tekniskt system.

Dental decay is a preventable disease, but it remains the most unmet healthcare need of American children. Untreated dental decay has adverse and long-lasting effects on a child's quality of life. Healthy oral habits among preschool children are essential for a healthy permanent dentition and are achieved primarily by 3 oral health related behaviors: proper dental hygiene, a healthy noncariogenic diet, and regular dental visits. This quantitative study, based on the theory of planned behavior, explored the relationship between these 3 oral health behaviors and 4 determinants: attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intention, using a 71-item questionnaire. The study utilized convenience sampling. A total of 436 parents or caregivers of children enrolled in the North East Independent School District Early Childhood Education program participated in this study; 81.5% were low-income, and 66% reported Hispanic identity. The relationship between variables was evaluated using multiple regression analysis. This study indicated that attitude alone toward a healthy diet and dental hygiene was not a significant predictor of behavior, but the attitude toward dental attendance was significant. Subjective norm, perceived behavior control, and intentions individually and combined were significant predictors of all 3 behaviors, except for subjective norm towards hygiene. Meaningful social change can be achieved by identifying and understanding the underlying motives that evoke planned and deliberate oral health behaviors among parents of preschool children. Targeted messages and cost-effective early interventions can be developed to prevent the onset of dental disease and improve the quality of life for low-income children.

The work deals with the understanding of own emotions in preschool children and the possibilities of its development. The literature review part presents the most well-known models of emotional intelligence and understanding of own emotions as its basic component. It also describes the developmental specifics of the preschool period with an emphasis on emotional development, and in particular the development of understanding of emotions. Factors that influence emotional development and ways in which emotional intelligence and specifically understanding of emotions can be developed are presented. The aim of the research part is to investigate, through a qualitative study design, how the expression of understanding of one's own emotions in preschool children changes after the intervention, in which the publication Emušáci: Ferda a jeho mouchy by Michaela Dostálová, Sylvia Jančiová and Helena Vlčková is used. The data are collected through individual structured interviews and processed by thematic analysis. The results describe how preschool children express their understanding of their own emotions and what changes occur in this respect after the implementation of the chosen form of intervention. Keywords Understanding emotions, preschool children, emotional intelligence, qualitative research, Emušáci

This licentiate thesis examines mathematical activities in a preschool. More precisely, the aim is to create knowledge of how mathematical activities emerge and are constructed in children's interactions with each other and with their teachers. The empirical material consists of video recordings and field notes collected through participant observations during a six-month period in two preschool units for children 3-5 years old. Theoretically the study is based on an ethnomethodological (EM) and conversation analytic (CA) perspective. Video recordings were analyzed using conversation analytic methods, involving a close and detailed analysis of sources in situated mathematical activities. Through the use of an EM and CA perspective this study contributes with new theoretical and methodological approaches to research on mathematical activities in preschools. In the close analysis of children's actions in interaction, an active child with ideas, interests, and commitment emerges, a child who uses a variety of communicative resources when participating in mathematical activities. Whether it is the children or the teachers who initiate the activity the children are actively involved in the construction of the mathematical content. Geometric shapes and concepts as well as different aspects of children's number sense are a couple of the mathematical topics covered in the study. In the activities the childrens display knowledge of math verbally as well as with their bodies, something that is analyzed by using the concept of epistemic stance. The preschool teachers sometimes used occasions when children display specific knowledge as an educational resource for other children's learning. The study also shows that children as well as their teachers follow each other's initiatives in the activities. This means that children change and enlarge the mathematical content within the activities and that the teachers follow the children's initiative. Through this reciprocity the mathematical content of the activity is maintained.