Childcare Experts Unite in Vallendar to Strengthen Everyday Child Protection
Over 200 childcare professionals gathered in Vallendar for the 8th Pedagogical Conference, centered around child protection in everyday daycare work. The main event was organized by Lena Dielmann, an advisory specialist, and the Institute for Education, Upbringing, and Childcare (IBEB) at Koblenz University of Applied Sciences.
The conference kicked off with a keynote by Dr. Ute Hartmann. She emphasized that child protection requires constant reflection and long-term commitment from educators. Later, Dr. Andy Schieler announced the successful recertification of nine municipal daycare centers under the QiD program.
Prof. Dr. Jörg Maywald contributed via video with a talk titled 'Daycare as a Safe Space'. His presentation sparked an open discussion among attendees. The event also featured a 'Marketplace of Possibilities', where facilities shared practical approaches to child protection.
Workshops covered topics like prevention, handling difficult behavior, and staff self-care. Educators, directors, social workers, and a child protection advisor took part in the sessions. The conference highlighted how child protection is integrated into daily routines in early years settings.
The event brought together experts and practitioners to exchange ideas on safeguarding children. Daycare teams left with new strategies for embedding protection measures into their work. Organizers plan to build on the discussions in future training and policy development.
