Children Meaningful Interactions

Valuing culture and traditions is part of an inclusive curriculum. It also can create a range of learning opportunities and great fun for the kids. As part of a globalized society we are all facing multi-cultural classrooms and offering spaces to appreciate the difference and promote inclusion is a daily compromise of preschool teachers. I grew up in Brazil and have a strong passion for my country heritage. When I was working in a preschool in Dublin, we had one of my biggest memorable days in childcare celebrating the carnival festival with the kids. It was such a great party atmosphere among those children, they learnt and enjoyed it so much! That is all what we want, isn’t it? Children learning while they are having fun! Carnival is an annual festival celebrated in Roman Catholic countries typically during the week before Lent. It involves street parade, music, dancing, and the use of masks and/or dressing up. Brazil holds the biggest celebration of carnival in the worl...

My name is Melissa, I am passionate for life and for getting to know the world. I was b orn and grow up in Brazil. My dad’s family is Italian descendant, so I have double citizenship. My mother tongue is Portuguese, and I also speak English, Spanish and Italian. I have been living in Ireland for 11 years, apart from working trips to India, Africa and Latin America. I hold a Primary Teaching qualification with expertise in preschool, a BA in Communications and Public Relations, a postgraduate degree in Educational Management, an MSc in Development Studies (UCD - University College Dublin) and I am current doing a PhD focused in Early Intervention for Children Meaningful Interactions in the UNESCO Child and Family Research Centre, National University Galway (NUI Galway). In terms of professional experience, I have a strong background working in communications, education and the development field. I have also set up (in Brazil) and been first Chair of a community association for...

I believe a smile is a universal face expression that can warm up hearts and spread good feelings anywhere they are presented. We all feel better when we are approaching a service and are received with a smile. The same happens when we arrive at work or at home. During a chat, we can feel how much reciprocity we are having if the other person gives any shy smile. We could say that a smile is an open doors tool. A smile is a fabulous ice-breaker. Nevertheless, a child smile is powerful. Young children are spontaneous creatures! They are free of any prejudice or social filters that humankind imposed to us. Young children are very sincere as well! If they are enjoying a play, they will keep playing with it; if they are bored, they walk way. If they are happy, they smile straight way. If they are upset, they show it straight way too. A young child smile warms up hearts quickly. Children spread such a positive energy around them – and basically through the lightness of their smile! ...