CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Shape a childs character and...

CITY OF ATHENSCITY OF ATHENS

NURSERY SCHOOLSNURSERY SCHOOLS

““Shape a child’s character and Shape a child’s character and personality during preschool age” personality during preschool age”

Dr. Tsiftis George, Paediatrician Municipality of Athens

Nursery Centers



According to old Pediatric reports, According to old Pediatric reports, the main source of problems for a the main source of problems for a child, within the first years of life, child, within the first years of life, should be search out within the should be search out within the

family, the home. family, the home.



It is particularly noted that the It is particularly noted that the evolution of a child personality is evolution of a child personality is

strongly and constantly connected strongly and constantly connected with the environment with the environment



30 years ago, this environment was 30 years ago, this environment was the family house. Simple or more the family house. Simple or more

complex traumatic experiences could complex traumatic experiences could affect the child. Later during school affect the child. Later during school life, other factors such as teacher, life, other factors such as teacher,

school performance, friendsschool performance, friends are more are more important for affecting the child. important for affecting the child.



Within the last 30 years, actual socio-Within the last 30 years, actual socio-economic conditions required the economic conditions required the creation of nursery schools. Thus, creation of nursery schools. Thus,

family is not the only factor to affect a family is not the only factor to affect a child, nursery schools do so. child, nursery schools do so.



Furthermore, due to urbanization the Furthermore, due to urbanization the old traditional family (more generations old traditional family (more generations used to live together supporting each used to live together supporting each

other) does not exist any more. A other) does not exist any more. A multi-member family gave the child the multi-member family gave the child the

opportunity to observe, learn, live opportunity to observe, learn, live spontaneously and leisurely. spontaneously and leisurely.



Actual nuclear family, particularly Actual nuclear family, particularly limited, has been cut off its roots, while limited, has been cut off its roots, while

innate and practice knowledge has innate and practice knowledge has been replaced by various inappropriate been replaced by various inappropriate

methods of raising a child, daily methods of raising a child, daily promoted through mass media. promoted through mass media.



During recent years, important diseases During recent years, important diseases (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases etc.) are connected respiratory diseases etc.) are connected

with distorted attitudes in day life. with distorted attitudes in day life.



According to various studies, in most of them, the Nursery According to various studies, in most of them, the Nursery schools of the Municipality of Athens have participated in : schools of the Municipality of Athens have participated in :

1. The rate of obesity and overweight children is constantly increasing, varying from 5% - 13% respectively,

2. 7 people are killed every day due to car accidents and other 66 are injured. According to a study prepared ten years ago within the 94 nursery schools, only 1 of 4 parents was wearing a seatbelt and only 1 of 2 children (meaning 30% of the children going to nursery school by car) was sitting in a special safe seat.

3. 30% of children in pre-school age have dental caries

4. The frequency of melanoma has been increased. In 1982, 3 children out of 1.000.000 while in 2002, 7 children out of 1.000.000.



All the above constitute the main health All the above constitute the main health problems connected with bad habits, and problems connected with bad habits, and

that they could be improved if our attitude is that they could be improved if our attitude is changed. changed.



Within the 94 Nursery Schools of the Municipality of Within the 94 Nursery Schools of the Municipality of Athens, various programs have been implemented Athens, various programs have been implemented

in order to learn children to develop proper attitudes. in order to learn children to develop proper attitudes. These programs concern traffic education, correct These programs concern traffic education, correct

nutrition, mouth and body hygiene, protection nutrition, mouth and body hygiene, protection against risks in the sea, mostly focusing on sun against risks in the sea, mostly focusing on sun

protection.protection.



Such efforts are usually implemented through theatrical Such efforts are usually implemented through theatrical performances, fairy tales, or favorite figures (i.e. performances, fairy tales, or favorite figures (i.e. cartoons) either through dramaturgy of Greek cartoons) either through dramaturgy of Greek

Mythology (i.e. Ikaros or the young Faethon who did not Mythology (i.e. Ikaros or the young Faethon who did not know how to break the horses on *Elios’ char, lost know how to break the horses on *Elios’ char, lost

control and killed himself while burning out many land control and killed himself while burning out many land areas) areas)

*Elios = Ήλιος in Greek = Sun



Changing a child’s attitude cannot be Changing a child’s attitude cannot be accomplished through scientific information, no accomplished through scientific information, no matter how perfect it is. A child can easily learn matter how perfect it is. A child can easily learn

through examples, imitation and positive through examples, imitation and positive correlation based on the group’s attitude (i.e. correlation based on the group’s attitude (i.e.

dining all together the same dishes) dining all together the same dishes)



Family, teachers, relatives and friends should give the right example.

Currently, some of these parameters do not exist any more. Television has

replaced them.



Children are immature, therefore it is easier for them to believe any kind of doubtful messages. Advertisement is

the most effective TV program to affect young children, who stay longer at

home and they cannot read.



TV programs should be properly selected and parents should watch

television together with their children. Thus, parents have the opportunity to

discuss, judge, admire or reject strange messages, ideas or standards.



Music and painting constitute an important factor as well. Music introduces measure and

harmony, used by people as a therapy method.

Platon used to say that “the harmony of our music was given by our Gods, not for a

wasteful pleasure, but for imposing order to our broken souls making them resemble to the

divine standard”.



Painting constitutes a creative practice for a child, which releases him,

broadens his mind and completes his contact with the world.



Our effort to develop a sane personality in a child should be

constant and identical. Everybody deserves equal opportunities.

We believe, that the establishment of a special committee, preparing issues and guidelines within E.U., could be

very helpful.



Thank you!

Thank you!

CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Shape a childs character and...

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