Lappeenranta trains daycare staff to prevent violence

Lappeenranta is training early childhood education staff to prevent and safely manage violence involving children, Yle reports. The move follows local officials’ concerns about an increase in violent incidents in early childhood education and primary education in recent years.

The city’s Children and Youth Committee recorded its concern in its October meeting minutes. Violence can include a child hurting an adult or another child by throwing objects, hitting, kicking or biting.

In Lappeenranta’s early childhood education services, reported incidents occur in individual situations, groups or involving particular children, early childhood education director Mirva Nousiainen said. The city does not have many cases, she said, but the issue is recognised. Staff are required to report incidents, though not every individual situation may have been recorded.

Nousiainen said case numbers do not necessarily rise steadily from year to year. A child moving to another group, for example, can bring a situation to an end. She also noted that young children’s self-regulation skills are still developing and require substantial support from adults.

The city has begun training staff using the Avekki method. Since early autumn, early childhood special education teacher Sirpa Salmela has trained employees to anticipate challenging situations, remain calm and guide them safely. The situation is then discussed with the child and their guardians.

Dozens of employees have been trained, and the city aims to train the rest. Salmela said staff are already becoming better at spotting situations that could lead to violence and preventing them from escalating.

Salmela said a common mistake is failing to anticipate a child’s behaviour and allowing a situation to develop. Basic needs such as food, water, rest and being comfortable can contribute to restlessness and aggression, she said. Lappeenranta’s early childhood education staff say blaming anyone does not help reduce violence.