At work with children. Child Observation in some professional contexts. Autism, Adhd and other labels: what is the matter?
Summer School
Dipartimento di Economia, Società, Politica
| A.Y. | Venue | |
|---|---|---|
| 2022/2023 | Urbino |
Learning Objectives
Themes
AT WORK WITH CHILDREN. CHILD OBSERVATION IN SOME PROFESSIONAL CONTEXTS.
AUTISM, ADHD AND OTHER LABELS: WHAT IS IT ABOUT?
The aim of this Summer School is to provide the participant, through study, discussion, practical experimentation and seminars conducted by professionals and psychoanalysts, the fundamental skills to realize an effective interpretative work about the clinical and dynamic aspects of the observative materials. Through the Child Observation method some of the most common diagnoses in the developmental age will be contextualized: autism, ADHD, SLD (Specific learning disabilities), SEN (Special Educational Needs), ODD (Oppositive Defiant Disorder). The main purpose will be to bring the child's experience and thoughts to the fore in different life contexts, with particular attention to the school environment and prejudicial relational situations. In the field of diagnosis in the developmental age, the growing tendency is to interpret the child's behavior without taking into account the relationship with the Other (Laznik, 2000) and the experiences that are part of his experience, preferring rather the exclusive use of assessment test. The considerable increase in the use of diagnostic labels (Zappella, 2021) of autism, ADHD, SLD, SEN, ODD risks overshadowing in the diagnostic phase "the willingness to observe the child for a long time in his daily activities, in games, in the ways he relates to parental figures , especially to his mother, as behavior varies in relation to environmental changes (at home, in the park, in nursery and with other children)" (Russo, 2023) For those who work with children, essential is a theoretical-practical formation to perfect the competence to observe the specificity of the childhood relational and intellectual experience. Observation is still today one of the most widespread methods in developmental psychology research (Brown, 2006; Lis & Venuti, 1996; Monti & Crudeli, 2007). The Child Observation method consists in specific techniques for collecting materials and processing, detecting and interpreting them: the observer, properly trained, involved in the relationship with the child, learns to keep his or her attention fluctuating, noting the details of some significant moments and monitoring their own emotional experiences and then sharing them with other observers (Zaphiriou Woods & Pretorius, 2016). Nowadays, the Child Observation is applied in different professional contexts and proves to be a crucial technique, especially for those who work in the development field. The Summer school initiates the intentional use of observation, starting from the psychoanalytic discoveries (Winnicott, 1941; Freud A., 1953; Bick, 1964), offering the possibility of a space for reflection on the observer’s affects, detected during casework. Intervention lines will take into account the emotional involvement in the various professional contexts. The examination of affects will contribute to the development of interpretative prudence, allowing participants to learn to avoid errors, misunderstandings and oversights related to the overestimation of sensory "impressions", the predominance of emotional reactions that can develop at the moment of impact with the observed situation or to the prejudicial beliefs that adults bring into play in their relationship with children, even unintentionally. The training will alternate moments of theoretical study with moments of discussion and casework, in order to help experience re-elaboration through small-group-work. Participants will be invited to present observative materials to practice the theoretical contents and practical techniques presented during the training days.
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Career prospects
Objectives
Developmental age professionals will be able to activate an effective interpretative work of the clinical and dynamic aspects, taking into account childhood competence, even where one of the most common diagnoses has been formulated: autism, ADHD, SLD, SEN, ODD. The child's experience - in different life contexts - will be brought to the fore, with particular attention to the school environment and to prejudicial relational situations.
The use of diagnostic labels will be supported by the conscious observation of the child in his daily activities, in games, in relational modalities. For those who work with children, it is essential a theoretical-practical formation which perfects the competence to observe the specificity of the childhood relational and intellectual experience.
The competence in Child Observation is considered a cross-competence both in the helping professions and in the forensic, clinical and educational professions. The specific professional skills, integrated with the technically motivated exercise of Child Observation in different contexts, will favor effective interventions.
Emotional involvement and professional dynamics of observers will be more oriented to the best interests of the child. Training in the exercise of Child Observation in different contexts can be presented as an integral part of continuing professional training. Will be started the procedures for the recognition of ECM credits in the health and forensic sectors and at the social worker order Teachers and educators can apply the certificate of participation in their permanent training platforms.
For those who work with children, the training that improves the competence to observe specificities of relational and intellectual childhood experience is essential. It is a cross-competence that increases and supports the different professional specificities of those who work in the developmental field. Psychologists, physicians, pediatricians, social workers, speech therapists, child neuropsychiatrists, educators, teachers, pedagogists, child-specialist lawyers, school administrators, psychotherapists will be able to learn to observe intellectual curiosity, oppositions, learning difficulties, emotional availability, implicit dynamics, relationships with caregivers, family disputes, bringing the child's competence to the fore. Professionals will thus be facilitated to become allies of the child's actionable resources.
Contents and structure of the course / Syllabus
Activities of PhD Students
The summer school period is from 17 July to 22 July 2023 at the DESP headquarters: via Saffi 42, Urbino.
The course consists of 40 hours of lessons divided between classes, alternative and laboratory; small groups; casework. Support of the University’s Education platform dedicated to continuing education.
The teaching activity is concentrated in 5 consecutive days with lessons that will be held:
Monday 17 July: 15.00 to 19.00
from Tuesday 18 July to Friday 21 July: from 09.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 19.00
Saturday 22 July: from 09.00 to 13.00
The focus of this second edition of the Summer School will be on observing the child's competence in cases in which a diagnosis has already been formulated or signals and/or suspicions that would require it are given. In particular, the following will be explored:
• the child's relationship with the adult (caregiver and others);
• the conquest of personal and social autonomy of the Toddlers (2-3 years of life);
• the forms of child psychopathology and situations of psycho-social distress especially in schools, from 3 to 10 years old;
• the involvement of observers in the observed relationship;
• the case studies developed during the workshops also relating to minors in the social field;
• tools for detecting observations in different life contexts (play, school context, relationships with peers, prejudicial situations).
The course includes the acquisition of 4 credits:
- Child Observation principles 1 CFU
- Main Instruments and Techniques in Child Observation 1 CFU
- Child Observation: toddlers and their affective dynamics 1 CFU
- Child Observation and Early Psychopathology 1 CFU
The course gives the possibility to acquire 40 ECM credits for the health professions.
Did you know that?
Professional opportunities
At the end of the course, 4 credits and (upon request) 40 ECM are released.
The course releases 40 credits for social workers and 20 professional credits for lawyers.
The course is also included in the SOFIA platform for teachers of all levels.
This Summer School is offered to all professionals working in the developmental field:
• psychologists and psychotherapists;
• physicians, pediatricians and child neuropsychiatrists;
• speech therapists and psychomotricians;
• managers, teachers and educators;
• child-specialist lawyers, mediators, guardians and trustees;
• social workers;
• high school graduates and three-year graduates engaged in the field of developmental age (babysitter, voluntary work, after-school activities, etc.).
In collaboration with the "Association for the Development of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy" of Ravenna, the "Società Amici del Pensiero Sigmund Freud" of Milan and the "School of Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy" of Ravenna, will be involved speakers, experts in the sector, who will bring their technical skills and the most representative cases of their many years of experience.
Participants will be able to present excerpts from real cases which will be processed as observation materials during the laboratory sessions.
The SOCIAL PROGRAM of the Summer School will be structured as follows:
• Monday: Urbino by night
• Tuesday: visit to the University Plaster Cast Museum
• Wednesday: view of the "Palazzo Ducale" of Urbino
• Thursday: Freudian reading
• Friday: social dinner
During the registration period you can enjoy all the services offered to university students.
There will be tutors who will assist participants throughout the course.
For more information (HOSPITALITY, ACCOMODATION, PROGRAM, etc.) you can
click the following link: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1pb_DguGNvc-ZozVXVXuDFWMAoO68ocU_?usp=share_link or use the USEFUL LINKS at the end of the page.
How to apply for At work with children. Child Observation in some professional contexts. Autism, Adhd and other labels: what is the matter?
- Admission
- Course with free access
- Number of positions
- 50 available
- Useful information
Psychologists and psychotherapists, teachers, educators, doctors, pediatricians, educators, managers, speech therapists, social workers, children’s neuropsychiatrists, children’s lawyers, school managers are admitted to the course.
To access the course, you must have a higher education diploma (only in cases of professions who do not require a degree as an entry requirement), a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree or V.O.
No specific access requirements are required.
At the end of the course, 4 CFUs or 40 ECMs are issued.
The minimum number of students required for the activation of the Summer School is 20.
Only if the number of applications exceeds the maximum number of available places will an evaluation of the CVs be carried out (to be sent, together with the submission of the application, to the Office for Advanced Training and together with the Director of the course) by the Summer School Scientific Committee.
The application for registration does not have to be sent, the Office will acquire it directly from the system.
Candidates who do not complete the registration by the indicated deadline will forfeit the right.
In accordance with DM 270/04, 1 training credit corresponds to 25 hours of work per student, including individual study.
Pursuant to art. 75 of the Presidential Decree 445/2000, if the Administration ascertains, on the basis of suitable checks, the untruthfulness of the content of the declarations made by the candidate, the declarant forfeits any benefits possibly achieved by the provision issued on the basis of the untruthful declaration.
You can apply from the 03/05/2023 to the 11/07/2023. Using the online procedure you can register to fill in the application and pay with PagoPA (Credit Card, PayPal) to complete the payment of the admission fee.
Module A: Bachelor's degree € 300,00
Module B: Master’s degree and/or professionals € 500,00
to be paid with a single payment by 11/07/2023 (registration).WARNING: before making the payment check if the minimum number (20) of participants in order to activate the course has been reached.
Payments must be made using the method available under "payments" in the menu on the left of the personal webpage of the student.
- Application procedure
- You can apply from the 03/05/2023 to the 11/07/2023 . Using the online procedure you can register to fill in the application and pay with PagoPA (Credit Card, PayPal) to complete the payment of the admission fee.
- Online registration
- Online registration Registration guidelines
Information on teaching and research activities
- Organization
Prof.ssa Maria Gabriella Pediconi, RU - Professore aggregato - Dipartimento DESP
maria.pediconi@uniurb.it
- Contacts
- Maria Gabriella Pediconi
- 0722 305839 maria.pediconi@uniurb.it
- Savino Romani
- 0722 305839 savino.romani@uniurb.it
Administrative contacts
- Secretary’s Office
- Ufficio Dottorati - Post laurea - Esami di Stato
- Via Veterani, 36 - Urbino
- Office hours
- Monday - Friday from 9.30 am to 13pm
- Contacts
- Tel. +39 0722 304637 corsi.postlaurea@uniurb.it
