The phonological system can be described and analyzed on three levels; word, syllable and segment. The non-linear nature of the system enables an analysis from different viewpoints on phonology. LINköpingsUnderSökningen (LINUS) is a phonological test for children between the ages of 3 to 6 years which enables a non-linear analysis. Previous studies at  Linköping University have shown that children with phonological language impairment have phonological deviations on all three levels. Even though there is research involving Swedish-speaking children with expressive phonological impairment, further research is needed due to lacking in sample size and age span of participants. The purpose of this thesis is to compare the expressive phonological ability of children between the ages of 3 to 5 years who have been referred to a speech and language pathologist (SLP) for suspected phonological difficulties with a control group consisting of peers without known difficulties. In the study 10 children participated who were recruited from a speech and language pathologist clinic in a big city in Sweden, and raw data was also used from a previous study on an additional 11 children. Children with language impairment were matched with a control group with children of the same age. The age interval of participating children was between 3 years and 2 months and 4 years and 11 months.  The LINUS test was issued at a speech and language pathologist clinic together with a SLP.  The results showed similar deviations on word, syllable and segment level for both the study group and the control group. However the results of the study group contained a higher amount of deviations. The word and syllable level caused the greatest challenge for both groups. Additionally, both the study group and the control group exhibited deviations in terms of word structure where the most frequent shortcoming was reduction of consonant clusters. To conclude, similar types of deviations occurred in both groups, although the study group had a higher amount of deviations on all levels. For stronger conclusions, a larger sample size and younger participants are needed.

This thesis deals with leisure time of preschool children. The theoretical part describes the preschool children in view of their development, the importance of family, kindergarten and leisure. It also discusses the free time where there are defined basic concepts, as well as functions of leisure time, the factors that affect leisure and specifics of children's leisure time. Finally, it is engaged in activities related to the leisure time of preschool children. The principal activity is the free game, among others include work and learning. These last two operations usually are spontaneous and kids do not even realize they are learning or working. The practical part deals with a qualitative research. Based on realized structured interviews will be found categories characteristic of a experience of time off at preschool children.

Syftet med arbetet är att bidra med kunskap om förskolebarns föreställningar om lek, i åldrarna 4-5 år. Jag studerar här barns perspektiv på lek med inspiration av fenomenologisk teori. För att besvara frågeställningarna Hur beskriver barn vad lek är för dem och Vad är det i leken som lockar barn att leka användes metoden semistrukturerade intervjuer med ett förutbestämt frågeschema i intervjuer med 17 förskolebarn. Detta har möjliggjorts genom att använda sig av barns perspektiv samt det fenomenologiska perspektivet som inspiration där människan erfar världen genom kropp och sinne. Resultatet visar att merparten av förskolebarnen leker för att de tycker att det är kul, att de helst leker med kompisar än leker själva samt att de dras till leksituationer beroende på materialets placering och användningsområden. I analysen framkommer det att sociala relationer, miljöer och redskap påverkar lekens utfall. / The purpose of this study is to contribute to knowledge on 4-5 years old children's conception of play in preschool. The study is inspired by phenomenological theory. To answer the questions How do children describe what play is for them and What is it in play that attracts children to play I used semistructurered interviews with a predetermined questionnaire to interview 17 preschool children. This has been made possible by using the child's perspective as well as the phenomenological perspective as inspiration where one experiences the world through body and mind. The result shows that the majority of preschool children play because they think it's fun, they prefer to play with friends rather then play by themselves and they are drawn to playsituations depending on the location and the use of the material.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:30:53Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 4480.pdf: 1010573 bytes, checksum: 16ea349649171cd73774c5b9714ea8c7 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-15 / Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais / Abstract Although the studies regarding the role of counting in the acquisition of the numeric conceptual behavior has grown and developed in the past few decades, results available in the literature still show experimental and theoretical disagreements. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of training on oral counting in the acquisition of numeric conceptual behavior through the comparison to the performance of children who were not exposed to the training on counting. Participants consisted of eight children, between three and four years old, from a private elementary school in Araraquara city, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The battery of numeric tasks used for this purpose consisted of the following stimuli, all them ranging from 1 to 9: arabic digits (A); sets of pictures of objects and animals with a random spatial distribution (B); printed number-words (C), spoken numbers (D) and naming (E). Participants in both groups were submitted to the following initial tests: oral counting, identity matching (AA, BB, CC), symbolic relations (AB, AC, BA, CA, BC, CB), auditive-visual matching (DA, DB, DC) and naming (EA, EB, EC). Equivalence relations between numbers and quantities (AB, AC and DA) were trained on both groups, experimental (EG) and control (CG), and oral counting was taught to the EG only. Training on counting consisted of the following steps: verification, training and production of the numeric verbal sequence repertoire, and establishment of oneto- one correspondence between numbers and names of elements in a set. The emergence of the BA, BC, CA, CB, DB, DC, EA and EB relations was observed with the EG participants. By the other hand, subsequent tests of training on relations (same as the initial tests) showed the emergence of the BA, DB, DC, EA and EB relations with the CG. In general, EG participants presented better overall scores compared to the CG. The results presented herein point to oral counting as a facilitator for the numerical equivalence. / Ultimamente tem crescido o número de estudos acerca do papel da contagem na aquisição do comportamento conceitual numérico. Os resultados disponíveis dessas pesquisas demonstram controvérsias teóricas e experimentais. O presente estudo teve por objetivo analisar o efeito do treino da contagem oral sobre a aquisição do comportamento conceitual numérico e comparar esse efeito com o desempenho de crianças que não foram expostas ao treino da contagem. Participaram oito crianças pré-escolares, entre três e quatro anos de idade de uma rede privada de ensino de Araraquara/SP. Aplicou-se uma bateria de tarefas que envolveram valores de 1 a 9 e os estímulos: algarismos (A); conjuntos de figuras de objetos e animais, cuja distribuição espacial era aleatória (B); nome escrito dos números (C); ditado (D); e nomeação (E). Os participantes de ambos os grupos foram submetidos a testes iniciais, apresentados na ordem que se segue: contagem de desenhos de objetos e animais, pareamento por identidade (AA, BB, CC), relações simbólicas (AB, AC, BA, CA, BC, CB), auditivovisual (DA, DB, DC) e nomeação (EA, EB, EC). Nos dois grupos, experimental (GE) controle (GC) foram treinadas as relações AB, AC e DA, porém a contagem oral foi ensinada apenas ao GE. O treino de contagem consistiu das seguintes etapas: verificação, treino e produção do repertório de sequência verbal numérica e estabelecimento da correspondência termo a termo entre nomes de números e elementos de um conjunto. Nos testes posteriores ao treino das relações (os mesmos dos iniciais), os participantes do GE apresentaram a emergência das relações BA, BC, CA, CB, DB, DC, EA e EB. Já os participantes do GC apresentaram emergência das relações BA, DB, DC, EA e EB. O desempenho dos participantes do GE foi superior ao dos participantes do GC. Os resultados obtidos neste estudo apontam para a contagem como facilitadora para a equivalência numérica.

The thesis deals with the preschool children{\crq}s representations of emotions and violence and compares education in standard kindergartens with Montessori kindergartens. The conditions of the origin of Montessori pedagogy clarified and the basic principles are compared with current knowledge of biology, psychology, pedagogy and sociology. The thesis introduces also the notion of social representations and two studies of preschool children{\crq}s social representations of emotions and violence. It gathers the knowledge if and how it is possible to modify these preschool children{\crq}s social representations. It focuses on the Montessori pedagogy as one of the possibilities of increasing the presence and quality of these social representations.

Os dentifrícios de baixa concentração de fluoreto têm sido sugeridos como alternativa para reduzir o risco de fluorose dentária, embora não haja consenso quanto a sua eficácia clínica, a qual pode ser aumentada quando o pH é ácido. Este estudo clínico randomizado teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito anti-cárie do pH e da concentração de fluoreto presente em dentifrícios líquidos, em crianças com diferentes status de atividade cariosa. Crianças de 2-4 anos de idade residentes em uma área fluoretada (0,6-0,8 ppm F), com (A) e sem (I) lesões de cárie ativa foram distribuídas aleatoriamente em três grupos de acordo com o tipo de dentifrício utilizado: Grupo 1 (n=48-A/56-I): 550 ppm F pH 4,5, Grupo 2 (n=56-A/48-I) 1100 ppm F pH 7,0, Grupo 3 (n=52-A/55-I): 550 ppm F pH 7,0. O número de lesões tornando-se ativas/cavidades ou inativas, respectivamente, foi avaliado clinicamente após 12 meses, podendo-se determinar se as lesões progrediram ou regrediram. Além disso, as lesões de mancha branca foram avaliadas através da técnica de quantificação de fluorescência induzida por luz (Quantitative Light-Induced Fluorescence - QLF) em uma subamostra de 75 crianças. A concentração de fluoreto nas unhas dos pés e no biofilme dentário também foi avaliada após 6 meses de uso dos dentifrícios. A progressão de cárie seguiu um padrão decrescente de acordo com o dentifrício utilizado (G3>G2>G1), independentemente da atividade de cárie da criança, mas diferenças significativas foram detectadas apenas para a progressão e o incremento de cárie (G1 < G3) no grupo de crianças cárie-ativas, quando avaliadas por inspeção visual. Para a regressão de cárie, os valores encontrados para os 3 grupos foram mais parecidos entre si, não havendo diferenças significativas entre osgrupos. Por outro lado, a análise com o QLF não detectou diferença significativa entre os Grupos 1 e 2, mas eles tiveram um desempenho significativamente melhor que o Grupo 3. Concentrações de fluoreto nas unhas significativamente mais baixas foram observadas quando as crianças usaram os dentifrícios fluoretados de baixa concentração de F, independente do pH. A concentração de F no biofilme foi significativamente maior para o grupo 2 quando comparado ao grupo 3 independente do tempo de coleta, enquanto o grupo 1 não diferiu significativamente do grupo 2, mas foi significativamente maior que o grupo 3, 60 minutos após a coleta. Os resultados reforçam os dados anteriores que mostraram um bom potencial do dentifrício líquido ácido de baixa concentração de F para prevenir lesões cariosas e ao mesmo tempo reduzir a ingestão de fluoreto. Assim, este dentifrício parece ser uma boa opção para as crianças na idade de risco para fluorose dentária, residentes em uma região fluoretada, independente da atividade de cárie. / Low-F dentifrices have been suggested as an alternative to reduce the risk of dental fluorosis, although there is no consensus on their clinical efficacy, which may be increased when the pH is acidic.The present randomized clinical trial evaluated the anticaries effect of low-F acidic liquid dentifrice in children at different caries activity status. Two-to-four-year-old schoolchildren living in a fluoridated area (0.6 0.8 ppm F), with (A) or without (I) active caries lesions were randomly allocated into 3 groups differing according to the type of dentifrice used over 12 months: Group 1 (n=48-A/56-I): 550 ppm F pH 4.5, Group 2 (n=56-A/48-I) 1100 ppm F pH 7.0, Group 3 (n=52-A/55-I): 550 ppm F pH 7.0. The number of lesions becoming active/cavities or inactive was clinically evaluated determining progression or regression. Additionally, the white spot lesions were evaluated by the quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) method in a subsample of 75 children. Toenail and plaque fluoride concentration were also evaluated 6 months after the use of the dentifrices. Plaque samples were collected 5 and 60 minutes after the last use of the dentifrices. Caries net increment followed a decreasing pattern according to the dentifrice used (G3>G2>G1) regardless caries activity, but significant differences were detected only for caries progression and net increment (G1 < G3) for the cariesactive group when evaluated through visual inspection. For the regression, the values found for the three groups were more similar, without significant differences. QLF analysis detected no significant difference between Groups 1 and 2, but they performed significantly better than Group 3. Toenail fluoride concentration significantly lower was observed when children used the low-fluoride dentifrices. Plaque F concentration was significantly higher for Group 2 compared to group 3, egardless the time, while Group 1 did not significantly differ Group 2, but was significantly higher when compared to Group 3, 60 minutes after plaque collection. The results reinforce previous data that showed a good potential of the low-fluoride acidic LD to prevent caries and reduce fluoride intake. Thus, it seems to be a good option for children at the age of risk for dental fluorosis, living in a fluoridated area, regardless the risk for dental caries.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T14:30:19Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Luisa Jardim Correa de Oliveira.pdf: 1594740 bytes, checksum: 0935c9da334b79035287fa249997e9c8 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-03-29 / Oral mucosal lesions are conditions that occur in soft tissues of the mouth, and are expressed by several clinical aspects. The literature has reported the need of considering the functional and psychosocial dimensions in regard to the oral health for the evaluation of dental interventions, such as the oral health related quality of life impact. In this context, the oral mucosal lesions can influence people's daily life due to pain and discomfort that they can cause. The aim of this study was to access the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions and their impact on Oral Health Related Quality of Life (OHRQoL) in children aged 5, from a birth cohort of Pelotas, Brazil. In 2009, a sample of 1,303 children born in Pelotas (2004 Cohort) was selected to participate in the study. Data were collected using a questionnaire applied to mothers and with clinical examinations of the children in their household. Oral mucosal lesions (OML) were identified by type, site and size. Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (ECOHIS), consists of 13 questions, was used to assess caregivers perception on children OHRQoL. Descriptive analysis was performed in order to get the absolute and relative frequencies of the variables related to oral mucosal lesions. Bivariate analysis was performed to assess the association between the presence of OML and prevalence, extent and intensity of the ECOHIS items. Poisson regression models were used to investigate the association between lesions of the oral mucosa and ECOHIS score adjusting for confounders. The prevalence of the oral mucosal lesions was 30.1% (95% CI 27.5-32.9). The site more affected was the gum (31.0%) followed by the tongue (23.9%). Ulcers (29.4%) and papule/nodule (21.9%) were the more prevalent types of lesion. The majority of OML (76.8%) had size up to 5mm. A positive association was found between the presence of OML and impact on oral heath related quality of life measured in overall ECOHIS score (p <0.001), extent (p <0.001), prevalence (p = 0.002) and intensity (p = 0.010). Through the Poisson regression was observed that, even after adjustments, children with OML showed greater oral heath related quality of life (RR 95% CI 1:38 1:11; 1.72) than children without OML. Therefore, the main conclusions of this study are: there is a high prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in children 5 years old and these lesions impaired children oral health related quality of life / Lesões de mucosa bucal são condições que ocorrem nos tecidos moles da boca, e que se expressam por aspectos clínicos diversos. Tem sido apontada na literatura a necessidade de considerar as dimensões funcionais e psicossociais da saúde bucal para a avaliação de intervenções odontológicas, como o impacto na qualidade de vida relacionado à saúde bucal. Neste contexto, as lesões de mucosa bucal podem influenciar a vida diária das pessoas devido à dor e ao desconforto que podem causar. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a prevalência das lesões de mucosa bucal e seu impacto na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal em crianças de 5 anos de idade pertencentes a uma coorte de nascimentos. Em 2009, uma amostra de 1.303 crianças nascidas em Pelotas e pertencentes à Coorte de 2004 foi selecionada para participar do estudo. Foi realizada a aplicação de um questionário e exames odontológicos no domicílio das crianças. As lesões foram identificadas no exame bucal segundo o tipo de lesão fundamental, localização e tamanho. O impacto na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal foi investigado através do instrumento Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale ECOHIS, respondido pelos responsáveis pela criança, e composto por 13 itens. Os dados obtidos foram analisados utilizando o software STATA 11.0. Análise descritiva foi realizada a fim de obterem-se as frequências relativas e absolutas das variáveis relativas às lesões de mucosa bucal. Análise bivariada foi realizada para verificar associação entre presença de lesões de mucosa bucal e prevalência, extensão e intensidade de respostas do ECOHIS. Modelos de regressão de Poisson foram utilizados pra verificar a associação entre lesões de mucosa bucal e o escore do ECOHIS ajustando por fatores de confusão. A prevalência das lesões de mucosa bucal foi de 30.1% (IC 95% 27.5-32.9). O sítio mais acometido foi a gengiva (31.0%), seguido da língua (23.9%). Os tipos de lesões fundamentais mais prevalentes foram as úlceras (29,4%) e as pápulas/nódulos (21,9%). A maioria das lesões (76.8%) tinha tamanho de até 5mm. Foi encontrada associação entre a presença de lesões de mucosa bucal e impacto na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal, medido em escore total médio do ECOHIS (p<0,001); extensão (p<0,001); prevalência (p=0,002) e intensidade (p=0,010). Através da regressão de Poisson foi observado que, mesmo após ajustes, crianças com lesão de mucosa bucal apresentaram maior impacto na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal (RR 1.38 95% CI 1.11; 1.72) do que crianças sem lesão de mucosa bucal. Assim, as principais conclusões dessa dissertação são: a prevalência de lesões de mucosa bucal em crianças de 5 anos de idade é alta e estas lesões causam um impacto negativo na qualidade de vida relacionada à saúde bucal.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-08-20T13:57:56Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_GIOVANNA_LAURA_MARIA_GATICA_DOMINGUEZ.pdf: 1413765 bytes, checksum: 97860c5a57766672efcc044ced0edf61 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010-11-26 / Objectives: To identify the eating profile of children in early childhood and to assess its variability according to demographic, socioeconomic and behavioral factors. Methods: 4,231 children participated in the study of perinatal birth cohort from Pelotas, southern Brazil, who were followed at 3, 12, 24, and 48 months. Information on children's food intake were collected through a list of foods consumed in last 24 hours before interviews (LF24) at 12, 24 and 48 months of age. Principal components analysis (PCA) was carried out in order to identify eating profiles for each age studied. Results: We identified five components in each follow-up. Four of them were equal in three follow-ups, which were called milks, base, beverage and snack. A component called adult appeared at 12 and 24 months and another, called treats, at 48 months. The greatest differences were found between the dietary profile and socioeconomic groups in all the trimmings. Milks was the profile that best explained the children s diet at 12 months. At 48 months, breast milk doesn t appear anymore and at this age milks (cow's milk and chocolate milk) shows an monotonic and increasing trend in relation to economic level, indicating that richest families tends to present great consumption of theses foods. The component sweets at 48 months of age was associated with greater consumption of sweets, chocolate and chips, which were negatively associated with socioeconomic status and maternal education. Child care outside home was a characteristic extremely important for differentiation of eating profiles, with aging. Conclusion: Our results showed that in times such early childhood, food profiles already associated with social (education, socioeconomic status and child care) and behavioral (duration of breastfeeding, bottle feeding and pacifier) characteristics. / Objetivos: identificar o perfil alimentar de crianças na primeira infância e avaliar sua variabilidade segundo fatores demográficos, socioeconômicos e comportamentais. Métodos: No estudo perinatal da coorte de nascimentos de Pelotas (Sul do Brasil) participaram 4.231 crianças as quais foram acompanhadas com 3, 12, 24, e 48 meses. As informações sobre consumo alimentar das crianças foram coletadas através de uma lista de alimentos em 24 horas (LA24) aos 12, 24 e 48 meses de idade através desses dados foram identificados perfis alimentares usando análise de componentes principais (ACP) para cada uma das idades estudadas. Resultados: Foram identificados cinco componentes em cada um dos acompanhamentos. Quatro deles foram iguais em três acompanhamentos, os quais foram denominados leites, base, bebida e lanche. Um componente chamado adulto apareceu aos 12 e 24 meses e o guloseimas, aos 48 meses. As maiores diferenças foram encontradas entre o perfil alimentar e os grupos de nível econômico medido pelo IEN em todos os acompanhamentos. O leite materno apareceu, aos 12 meses como o perfil que melhor explicou a alimentação das crianças. Aos 48 meses, o leite materno não apareceu e pode-se mostrar uma tendência crescente, monotônica, do escore leites (leite de vaca e achocolatado) com o nível econômico, indicando maior consumo destes alimentos, quanto mais rica a família. O componente guloseimas (48 meses) esteve associado ao maior consumo de doces, chocolate e chips, o qual apresentou associação negativa com nível econômico e escolaridade da mãe. O fato da criança ter sido cuidada fora de casa foi uma característica de extrema importância na diferenciação dos perfis alimentares, conforme o avanço da idade. Conclusão: Nossos resultados mostraram que em período tão precoce quanto a infância os perfis alimentares já se mostram associados a características sociais (escolaridade, nível socioeconômico e cuidado da criança) e comportamentais (duração do aleitamento materno, uso de mamadeira e bico).

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The goal of this research was to create an educational, outdoor Augmented Reality tour for preschool children using Minnesmark editor and mobile application. It started with an ethnographic pre-study which aimed understand the children’s abilities, characteristics and interests. It was followed by a bodystorming session which allowed the children to contribute to the design process together with the designer. Based on all the findings, a context scenario was created which showed the concept of a practicable tour. All the functional and data requirements were specified before creating the tour. The design was intended to be user-centred and to have positive effect on the children’s learning of sustainability and biodiversity. The tour was refined and created as a final product. 10 children participated in the tour which was executed in a forest behind the preschool and the preschool garden. The tour was evaluated which identified the design problems and their possible solutions.