Atenção à saúde da criança na creche e pré-escola: saberes e práticas de educadores

Abstract

The Early Childhood Education aims at the integral development of children in their physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual and social aspects, complementing the action of the family and society in a unique period of habit formation. The life span in which children attending early childhood institutions (kindergartens and preschools) is a moment of formation of habits that may remain throughout life. The nursery / preschool is an important social facilities for the promotion of child health contributing to the adoption of healthy habits from childhood. Health care of the child inserted in Early Childhood Education from the perspective of knowledge and practices of educators is the subject of this study. It is a qualitative research that establishes the guiding question: How is characterized the health care of children in day care and preschool in the light of the knowledge and practices of child educator? The objective was to analyse the health care of children in early childhood education in the light of the knowledge and practices of child educator. The research site is educational institutions entered into VII health district of the city of Maceio. The study subjects are educators, characterized by teachers of early childhood education, coordinators, directors and living aids. Data collection was conducted through qualitative observation, photographic records and interviews with semi-structured with information about operational characteristics, physical structure; care practices; health and child safety. Data were analyzed from the thematic content analysis, which consists in discovering the units of meaning that make up a communication, whose presence or frequency mean something to the targeted analytical objective. This research demonstrates knowledge and practices of educators in health care of the child as an essential activity for the healthy growth and development, contributing to the reflection on comprehensive care to children's health in early childhood education, configured as a basic health action and important nursing care.