What is early childhood support?

Early childhood support or early childhood education refers to the general educational and developmental support for children from birth until preschool age. Unlike early intervention, which aims to improve the chances of children with intellectual or physical impairments, early childhood support refers to non-disabled children and includes both targeted measures in courses, nursery and daycare centers as well as playful stimulation in everyday life.

PEKiP, baby swimming: the classics

PEKiP courses promote through varying play activities and interaction between babies and parents the children's perception of the environment. The groups are offered for children from 4 weeks up to walking age.

Baby swimming classes (from about the 4th month of life) promote the motor skills and improve the perception of their own body. In addition, contact with water is an intense and sensory experience for babies.

Early childhood support at home – tips for parents\r

• Love and attention: A loving approach is the best support for children. Spend a lot of time with your child, listen to them attentively and support them at their individual pace of development.\r

• Cuddling without end: Physical contact is indispensable for children. The younger they are, the more important physical closeness is for a secure attachment and healthy development – when roughhousing, when putting them to bed or even quickly in between.

• Provide stimulation: Make sure that there are plenty of stimuli for playing and crafting are: Depending on age and preferences, these can include building blocks, stacking cups, drawing paper, pencils, craft materials, balls, cloths and much more.\r

• Reading together: Children not only love stories and rhymes, but also cuddling together while reading aloud. Even in infancy you can 'read aloud', later you can continue the stories from the picture books continue them to stimulate the imagination.\r

• Rough-and-tumble play, running, dancing: Children have a natural urge to move, and the more they move, the more intensely the nerve endings in the brain responsible for learning are connected. Give your child time and space to romp – preferably outdoors.\r

• Encourage curiosity: Children explore everything, from pot lids to newspaper. Emptying cupboards, digging in the sand, splashing in water – let your child discover their environment and accompany them attentively, without intervening too much in their play.

Image credits

Dad caresses baby, forming a bond © Prostock-studio - stock.adobe.com

Baby is held in the swimming pool and sticks out its tongue © Alexandra - stock.adobe.com