One cycle of baby massage and baby workshops was realized in the kindergarten “Sveti Sava”, where 7 families with babies aged 3-12 months were included. In the kindergarten “Gorica”, the program was realized through two cycles, in the first cycle 10 families with babies aged 4 to 8 months were included, while in the second cycle there were 6 families with babies aged 2.5 to 4 months.

Member of the Municipal Council Stana Lukic and the director of the Preschool Institution Cukarica Biljana Gajic visited the kindergarten “Gorica” ​​where the “Baby Program” is being realized, and they were welcomed by the project coordinator Aleksandra Petrovic and baby massage instructor and psychologist Nevena Strizak.

“This is another program that is for the benefit of our children, and which is implemented in compliance with all epidemiological measures.” For children of the youngest age, this early developmental stimulus is the most necessary, so this baby massage is a very useful project “, said Stana Lukic.

Director of PU Cukarica Biljana Gajic pointed out that the Project achieves a priority goal within the Development Plan of PU Cukarica, which refers to increasing the coverage of children not included in preschool education, especially children from vulnerable groups, increasing inclusiveness, and systemic continuous support children and families.

Baby massage instructor and psychologist Nevena Strizak said that in the long run, all these effects of baby massage contribute to the continuation of a safe base in the relationship with the parent, better general control of their body, feelings and behaviors and parental confidence in caring for the child.

Project coordinator Aleksandra Petrovic emphasized that the inclusion of fathers in the programs is important, because the goal is to strengthen the competencies of both parents for quality child care, and added that the implementation of the “Baby Program” in three more locations is in line with the needs of families.

Funds for the implementation of this program are provided from grant funds and relate to: baby oil, towels, diapers, disinfectants. Upon completion of the program, each family received an educational package for the child.

Just as a reminder, the preschool institution Cukarica implements two quality programs to support the early development of children and the improvement of parenting competencies. These are the Baby Program and the Short Program, which are intended for children aged from birth to 6.5 years who are not in the system of preschool education. Within the project, so far, the “Baby Program” has been realized in two locations, in the kindergarten “Sveti Sava” on Banovo brdo and in the kindergarten “Gorica” ​​in Sremcica.

The preschool institution Cukarica continued to successfully implement project activities within the project “Dad, Mom, play with us”. In the kindergarten “Gorica” ​​in Sremcica, two spaces are equipped for the realization of quality short programs.

“An important condition for the success of the project is the constant improvement of the quality of the preschool education system, by improving the material conditions and enabling professional development of educators as well as their professional development,” said the director of the PU Cukarica, Biljana Gajic.

“We use all available space resources that we have in the kindergarten, so we have equipped the space for the realization of baby programs, intended for families who have babies aged 0-12 months. Also, the space for the realization of the short program “Igroteka” is equipped. This program is intended for children who are not in the system of preschool education at the age of 1-5.5, “said the coordinator of the PU Cukarica team, Aleksandra Petrovic.

The member of the Municipal Council, Stana Lukic, pointed out that considering the fact that the City Municipality of Cukarica does not have the authority to equip preschool institutions, any donation that would improve the living conditions of children in kindergartens is very important.

The City of Zrenjanin is another local municipality on the list of grant winners. In the previous period, a large number of activities were realized in this city within the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia.

The project “To a kindergarten with a smile” is being implemented by the City of Zrenjanin with partners, namely the Preschool Institution Zrenjanin, the Centre for Social Work, the Red Cross, the Health Centre “Dr Boško Vrebalov”, the General Hospital “Dr Đorđe Joanović” and the “Stay Awake” association. The project aims to improve the availability, quality and equality of preschool education for every child from birth to 6.5 years, and especially for children from vulnerable groups.

Within the goal related to strengthening the capacity of institutions and organizations in local municipalities for providing services to children and families from vulnerable social groups, the space in the Health Centre “Dr Boško Vrebalov” in Zrenjanin has been adapted and equipped. The space is intended for the examination of children aged 5.5 to 6.5 years from the city of Zrenjanin as well as from all populated places by physiatrists, and as part of the regular examination of children when starting the first grade of primary school. Cooperation with the institutions of our city provided an opportunity for parents to make one of the obligatory examinations of children for starting school more accessible and practical.

In addition, in the context of improving the availability of preschool services for children from vulnerable social groups, 2 spaces for the implementation of programs in the preschool institution have been adapted and equipped.

In the kindergartens “Zvončica” and “Zvezdica”, 2 new groups of a full-day program for children aged 6 months to 3 years have been formed in the adapted premises. Kindergartens have been adapted and equipped with the most modern furniture, props and teaching aids. 16 children are enrolled in the kindergarten “Zvončica”, and 14 children in the kindergarten “Zvezdica”. In this way, the coverage of children aged 6 months to 3 years has been increased, especially mu of children from vulnerable social groups.

In order to achieve a common goal related to the well-being and overall development of every child from birth to 6.5 years, in the municipality of Odžaci, the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project gathered partners to achieve this goal together.

The holder of this project is preschool institution “Poletarac” and its partners are the local self-government, the Health Centre Odžaci, the Sports Association of the Municipality of Odžaci, the Red Cross Odžaci and the Association of Educators of Vojvodina.

In cooperation with the Sports Association of the Municipality of Odžaci, within the Project, a free Sports School for children between the ages of 3 and the school starting age in the “Maslačak” facility in Bogojevo has been realized since September.

Free Sports School program includes physical education program for preschool children. According to Jelena Ignjatić, president of the Sports Association of the Municipality of Odžaci and PE professor, the goal of physical education of preschool children is to contribute to the integral development of the child’s personality, motor skills development, improvement and application of these skills, habits and know-how in everyday and specific living and working conditions.

The activities of the School of Sports take place once a week in the yard,in the room of the kindergarten “Maslačak” in Bogojevo or in the gym of the elementary school “Jožef Atila” in Bogojevo. The activities are implemented by professors of physical education.

Children have the opportunity to get acquainted with physical exercise and all sports, which makes it easier for them to find a sport that best suits their abilities. The obligatory part of the training are exercises preventing the deformities of the spine, feet, chest, legs. Children who attend short programs, children from the preparatory preschool group in which educational work is done in the Serbian language and children from the preparatory preschool group in which educational work conducted in the Hungarian language practice together.

 “The most important thing is that we do all that by playing while training. The laughter, shouts and joy of the children must be present during all 45 minutes, as long as the training lasts “, says Prof. Jelena Ignjatić.

Another example of good practice within the grant program is the Webinar – “Experiences in creating short programs in PU Cukarica” ​​which was created by the Municipality of Cukarica within the project “Dad, Mom, play with us”.

The webinar was created as a response of the preschool institution “Cukarica” ​​to the special conditions and circumstances that characterize the daily design of various types of horizontal exchange with employees and online exchange with parents. The webinar consists of three parts:

• 1. Short programs
• 2. Baby program
• 3. Questionnaire

After watching two videos, all participants of the webinar fill in a questionnaire which is also an evaluation of horizontal training. By forwarding the questionnaire and completing the training, everyone will have the opportunity to exercise the right to horizontal professional development points (2 points). They will also receive a Confirmation electronically. Within the questionnaire, participants will have the opportunity to present their observations, questions and comments.

The director of PU Cukarica Biljana Gajic, expert associates, mentors in the project Katarina Djuric and Tijana Bogovac, project coordinator Aleksandra Petrovic educator, member of the project team educator Mirjana Jerkic, Milica Markovic, social worker, and Marija Gvozdovic, educator, participated in the creation of the webinar.

Just a reminder, the preschool institution “Cukarica” started the project “Dad, Mom, play with us”, in November 2019, as part of the Project of inclusive Preschool Education. All activities carried out since then are part of the program to support the early development of children and the improvement of parenting competencies through networking in the local community.