A key part of the organization’s success is working with adults. Through structured training, mentoring and supervision, the program builds capacity in parents, professionals, teachers and social workers. They learn skills on how to use play as a powerful tool to connect with children, support their learning, and deal with difficult emotions and experiences.
In this way, active learning trainings strengthen not only the individual child, but also the entire network of adults who care for and support him/her.
How Trained Adults Create a Structure That Facilitates Social Integration
Trained adults create a structure that facilitates children’s social integration by providing a safe, supportive and organized environment for play and learning. They act as facilitators who encourage active participation, cooperation and mutual respect among children, while adapting activities to the individual needs and capabilities of each child.
The specific ways in which trained adults create such a structure include:
- Creating clear rules and rituals that help children feel safe and understand behavioral expectations, which facilitates social interaction and reduces conflict.
- Supporting social skills by modeling positive communication, promoting cooperation, sharing, and empathy, as well as through role-playing that develop conflict resolution and collaborative decision-making skills.
- Providing an inclusive environment where all children, including those with disabilities or from vulnerable groups, have equal access to participation and support, which fosters a sense of belonging and community.
- Actively monitoring and adapting play activities to children’s individual needs to ensure that no child is left isolated or excluded.
- Assisting parents and other adults in the process to create consistency between the home and the educational environment, which enhances social support and integration.
This structured support from trained adults is key to successful social integration, as it creates conditions for children to develop social skills, build friendships and feel accepted and valued in the group.