Academics from the University of Talca gave 7 workshops aimed at mothers, fathers and caregivers with tools for the education and training of children.
In order to support mothers, fathers and caregivers with education and training tools for children between 3 and 5 years old, UTalca created the School for Families program. The initiative, which achieved a large turnout, closed its first version in a ceremony held at the Arboretum of the Talca Campus.
The schools of Psychology, Occupational Therapy and Nursing, as well as the career of Pedagogy in Early Childhood Education, with a major in English, and the General Directorate of Liaison with the Environment articulated and developed 7 workshops, in addition to a book with important recommendations. Language stimulation, healthy eating routines, how to strengthen secure attachment bonds and first aid were some of the topics discussed.
“We are very proud to have been able to work during these three months in a committed way in the execution of these 7 workshops that were finally able to achieve the objectives we had planned, which was to contribute to the development of greater competencies, among mothers, fathers and caregivers of children in our Region,” explained the director of the School for Families and the School of Psychology of the University of Talca, Andrea Cerda.
A project that, in addition to articulating the academic work of three faculties of UTalca, allowed the interaction and learning of students from different careers, who together with teachers were in charge of the care of the children who attended the workshops with their mothers and fathers.
“I find that it was a very pleasant experience because I got to meet children with different characteristics and it was enriching because I had 2 years of pandemic, so I had never had something as practical as what I had in this experience and I liked it, I had never done something like this and the truth is that I would repeat it if I could do it again, I liked the School for Families,” said Sofia Bravo, a fourth-year student of Psychology at UTalca.
The initiative financed by the TAL2095 project of the Ministry of Education, which is executed by the General Directorate of Liaison with the Environment, brought together about 30 participants from different parts of the Region.
“It has been a great institutional challenge that has allowed different schools to be convened, it is a multidisciplinary work that has provided tools to families in the Maule Region based on a problem that they themselves have raised. From now on, our challenge is to be able to continue replicating these instances, systematize these activities, recognize them institutionally to fulfill our role as a state and public university,” highlighted the General Director of Engagement with the Environment, Karin Saavedra.