1. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Shape a childs character and personality during preschool age Dr. Tsiftis George, Paediatrician Municipality of Athens Nursery Centers

2. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS According to old Pediatric reports, the main source of problems for a child, within the first years of life, should be search out within the family, the home.

3. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS It is particularly noted that the evolution of a child personality is strongly and constantly connected with the environment

4. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS 30 years ago, this environment was the family house. Simple or more complex traumatic experiences could affect the child. Later during school life, other factors such as teacher, school performance, friends are more important for affecting the child.

5. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Within the last 30 years, actual socio- economic conditions required the creation of nursery schools. Thus, family is not the only factor to affect a child, nursery schools do so.

6. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Furthermore, due to urbanization the old traditional family (more generations used to live together supporting each other) does not exist any more. A multi-member family gave the child the opportunity to observe, learn, live spontaneously and leisurely.

7. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Actual nuclear family, particularly limited, has been cut off its roots, while innate and practice knowledge has been replaced by various inappropriate methods of raising a child, daily promoted through mass media.

8. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS During recent years, important diseases (obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, respiratory diseases etc.) are connected with distorted attitudes in day life.

9. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS According to various studies, in most of them, the Nursery schools of the Municipality of Athens have participated in : 1.The rate of obesity and overweight children is constantly increasing, varying from 5% - 13% respectively, 2.7 people are killed every day due to car accidents and other 66 are injured. According to a study prepared ten years ago within the 94 nursery schools, only 1 of 4 parents was wearing a seatbelt and only 1 of 2 children (meaning 30% of the children going to nursery school by car) was sitting in a special safe seat. 3.30% of children in pre-school age have dental caries 4.The frequency of melanoma has been increased. In 1982, 3 children out of 1.000.000 while in 2002, 7 children out of 1.000.000.

10. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS All the above constitute the main health problems connected with bad habits, and that they could be improved if our attitude is changed.

11. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Within the 94 Nursery Schools of the Municipality of Athens, various programs have been implemented in order to learn children to develop proper attitudes. These programs concern traffic education, correct nutrition, mouth and body hygiene, protection against risks in the sea, mostly focusing on sun protection.

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25. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Such efforts are usually implemented through theatrical performances, fairy tales, or favorite figures (i.e. cartoons) either through dramaturgy of Greek Mythology (i.e. Ikaros or the young Faethon who did not know how to break the horses on *Elios char, lost control and killed himself while burning out many land areas) *Elios = Ήλιος in Greek = Sun

26. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Changing a childs attitude cannot be accomplished through scientific information, no matter how perfect it is. A child can easily learn through examples, imitation and positive correlation based on the groups attitude (i.e. dining all together the same dishes)

27. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Family, teachers, relatives and friends should give the right example. Currently, some of these parameters do not exist any more. Television has replaced them.

28. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Children are immature, therefore it is easier for them to believe any kind of doubtful messages. Advertisement is the most effective TV program to affect young children, who stay longer at home and they cannot read.

29. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS TV programs should be properly selected and parents should watch television together with their children. Thus, parents have the opportunity to discuss, judge, admire or reject strange messages, ideas or standards.

30. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Music and painting constitute an important factor as well. Music introduces measure and harmony, used by people as a therapy method. Platon used to say that the harmony of our music was given by our Gods, not for a wasteful pleasure, but for imposing order to our broken souls making them resemble to the divine standard.

31. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Painting constitutes a creative practice for a child, which releases him, broadens his mind and completes his contact with the world.

32. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Our effort to develop a sane personality in a child should be constant and identical. Everybody deserves equal opportunities. We believe, that the establishment of a special committee, preparing issues and guidelines within E.U., could be very helpful.

33. CITY OF ATHENS CITY OF ATHENS NURSERY SCHOOLS NURSERY SCHOOLS Thank you!