Special needs education = agogics with young children
Special needs education is aimed at children with developmental problems and children whose development is at risk. Abnormalities can manifest themselves in various developmental areas, e.g. in mental, linguistic, sensorimotor, emotional, social and / or perceptual development.
It may be that a toddler does not develop as his parents expect. Sometimes, during or shortly after birth, the child is handicapped. Other children show abnormalities during the first months or years of life; their development is slow or dysharmonic. For example, parents may notice that their child is not playing or speaking according to their age or that it shows behavior that irritates the environment.
Since these abnormalities can not be influenced by medical measures, the child and the family need a different kind of support. This necessary support of child development is the core task of the HFE.
Special needs education offers these children support and their families advice and support.
Mostly this home resp. in the usual environment of the child.
By playing and acting, the child acquires skills that he then learns to transfer to his everyday life with the help of adults.
My contribution to the individual promotion of the child supports its development and learning holistically. This facilitates integration and inclusion in the home environment, in the playgroup, at school and in society.
HFEs work with developmental and developmental children from birth until two years after entering school. Within this period, the duration of special needs education depends on the level of development of the child and the needs of the parents.
At this early stage of development (about 0-7 years), children are making great progress. They actively learn their environment, they learn to grab, walk, speak and become increasingly independent.
Families with a problem child are in a particularly vulnerable situation. They are often confused about the upbringing of this child, they are concerned about the resilience of the siblings or they notice that relatives and neighbors withdraw from them. This is another reason why parental advice and the joint search for solutions in early childhood special education play a major role.
When difficulties become visible and abnormalities are diagnosed, early childhood education helps to create optimal developmental conditions for the child and his or her environment.
Thanks to regular home visits, the child experiences reliability, rhythm and continuity.
By means of targeted game materials, HFEs design appropriate support for the level of development of the child.
In doing so, the self-determination of the child and his or her living environment in which it lives and learns every day are given special consideration.
Collaboration with parents and other caregivers
Objectives for the promotion and advice are worked out together with the parents.
The parents and other caregivers become aware of their competences and resources, which in turn strengthens their educational tasks and learning support.
Cooperation with professionals as well as offers for children and families
In order to coordinate action concepts and action goals and to optimally tailor the offer to the needs of the child and his family, I am working transdisciplinarily with specialists and specialist units in education and medicine.
As the child grows older, the discussion about kindergarten and training opportunities also belongs to the continuous support.
The accompaniment of the child and the family in the transition process of the kindergarten entrance = school start is also a core task of the HFE.
First consultation
The Swiss Education Director Conference (EDK) describes curative early education as follows: