SOCIAL ADAPTATION OF IMMIGRANT CHILDREN AND ITS SUPPORT IN EARLY YEARS EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS IN KLAIPEDA

Abstract

Research problem. How to help preschool immigrant children to successfully adapt in educational institutions? What methods of organizing assistance, preventing possible difficulties, are applied in preschool institutions?

Research object – social adaptation of pre-school immigrant children.

Research aim – analyse and justify the social adaptation of children of preschool immigrants and the methods of assistance used.

The main results of the study:

Summarizing the results of the first qualitative study, it can be concluded that immigrant children experience stress in the beginning in a new environment. This is influenced by the language barrier, new peers, teachers, new spaces and activities. It is very important that parents, teachers and the educational institution cooperate. The study revealed that one of the main factors facilitating the adaptation of immigrant children is that the teacher knows the child's native language, so that the child understands the teacher and the teacher understands the child. The main factor of adaptation is a close and harmonious relationship in the family, family help and support during adaptation.

Summarizing the results of the second qualitative study, it can be stated that the informants who participated in the study said that they are happy with Klaipėda preschools and the professional services they provide, as well as the individual attention to each child and his family. The research participants confirmed that constant efforts were made to help children get used to the new environment more easily, to overcome existing difficulties. It is important that the educational institution also provides speech therapist and psychologist support for immigrant children.

Research methods: analysis of documents on scientific literature and statistical accounting, two semi-structured interviews, qualitative analysis of the content (content).

Conclusions. The analysis of the authors of the scientific literature and the results of the qualitative research show that the successful social adaptation of children of preschool immigrants in the educational institution is influenced by the close cooperation of parents and educators and the administration of the institution in achieving the common goals of the child's education, competent work of educators and the educational community that responds to the child's feelings and needs.