ABSTRACT

The purpose of this thesis was to investigate the ability of a city early childhood educator to recognize children who have experienced traumatic experiences and the adequacy of work methods of early childhood education to identify traumatic experiences. The aim was to provide the city with information on the educational needs of early childhood educators and the manifestation of multi-professionalism as part of the recognition of children's traumatic experiences. The thesis focuses on the repetitive traumatic experiences of child abuse that directly affect the child or the child is exposed to abuse by others.

The study was conducted for both private and public early childhood education providers. The research material consisted of one interview with an Early Childhood Education Specialist teacher and 30 Webropol questionnaire responses given by early childhood educators. The study used both quantitative and qualitative content analysis.

Early childhood educators recognized the challenges of a child's home environment, such as the challenges of family life, the challenges of coping with parents and the challenges of parenting. The challenges were manifested by changes in the child's behavior, such as increased aggression, restlessness and emotional symptoms such as crying. Multi-professionalism and the identification of different forms of abuse are paramount to the recognition of children's traumatic experiences. Early childhood educators considered it important to increase staff training, consistent policies and accountability to more effectively identify children's traumatic experiences. Early childhood educators encountered challenges in speaking out and displaying multi-professionalism. The awareness of the early childhood educators about the effects of their own childhood experiences including in interaction and encounter situations should be part of their professional competence. Multi-professionalism, traumatic awareness and responsibility make it possible to recognize the traumatic experiences of children.