Wig network meeting focuses on the mental resistance of children and educators

For ten years now, the network healthy in the Vienna kindergarten for holistic health in around 500 elementary educational and support facilities of the seven largest carrier organizations in Vienna and this year was already inviting you to the Vienna City Hall for the 14th time. This time the focus was on the question: What makes a kindergarten strong towards stress? Around 100 experts from the elementary area exchanged themselves under the motto “grow healthy: the resilient kindergarten.” about how mental stability and mental health of children as well as educators can be strengthened. Because if you are a resilient, you can better overcome loads and better adapt to challenging situations.

Peter Hacker, City Councilor for Social Affairs, Health and Sport, emphasized the importance of the topic. “We, as a society, literally put our children in the hands of the elementary educators. Through a committed team and the cooperation within the network, healthy structures can arrive in practice. The city of Vienna supports this know-how exchanges because it shows and has positive effects,” emphasized Peter Hacker. Afterwards, Vice Mayor and City Councilor for Education, Youth, Integration and Transparency, Mag.a Bettina Emmerling, the long-term added value of this commitment: “Employees in the elementary education and care area are of great responsibility. Because in kindergarten, important foundations for healthy growing up are laid. in kindergarten. ” Dennis Beck, Managing Director of Vienna Health Promotion – WIG, showed a look at the mental health and the role of the educators in this process at the opening of the network meeting. “Children need an environment that supports their emotional development. Just as the kindergarten promotes the emotional growth of the children, the team of educators also needs a supportive environment, because the well -being of the employees has a direct impact on the well -being of children,” says Dennis Beck.

Common for strong children and strong teams

The network meeting, which was once again taking place as a certified eco-event Plus this year, was a place of encounter where scientific knowledge met with experience from everyday life. The start made an inspiring keynote from Priv.-Doz. Dr.in Silvia Exenberger, trained elementary worker and clinical psychologist, who gave an insight into research on mental resistance and on scientific results from positive psychology. In three interactive workshops, concrete measures have been developed on how the potential for resilience can be strengthened at all levels of a kindergarten – from the children to the team to the entire organization. The participation of representatives of the educational institutions for elementary pedagogy (BAFEP) was particularly enriching – including students who brought in their perspectives. The bridge between training and professional practice was successfully beaten. The 14th network meeting was once again a lively example of the power of exchange. The participants take new impulses, practical tips and tools and increased cooperation into their facilities in order to sustainably strengthen the resilience of children and teams. “I am very pleased that with this year’s network meeting we were able to focus on this central topic and thus create a platform for exchange via a healthy working atmosphere,” emphasizes Dennis Beck.

About the project

The “Healthy Network in the Viennese Kindergarten” is implemented by Vienna’s health promotion. Since 2015, the network has been offering a lively platform for personal exchange between the seven largest public and private elementary educational and support facilities in Vienna and aims to promote, maintain and improve health in the living environment. In the coordination group of the network of healthy kindergarten are represented: Wiener Health Promotion -WIG, City of Vienna -Kindergartens, Wiener Kinderfreunde, Children in Vienna -Kiwi, St. Nikolausstiftung Archdiocese Vienna, umbrella organization of the Vienna private kindergartens and horts, Viennese Children’s Groups, Association of Catholic Children’s Days. In the course of the health care reform, a state health promotion fund (LGFF) was established by the social security and the city of Vienna. The “Network Healthy in the Vienna Kindergarten” is financed from it.