Preschool teachers and their assistants play a vital role that requires responsible and professional conduct across numerous areas. Their work is not only educational but also includes an important set of tasks related to safeguarding and maintaining children's health. A common thread running through all their activities is acting in the best interest of the child. In this regard, the preschool serves as an environment that promotes a healthy lifestyle, which is reflected in the care for balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, adequate sleep and rest, and both general and specific hygiene.
Children in preschool come into daily contact with peers, eat meals, play, and rest, which requires clearly structured routine activities. These include regular and proper handwashing, diaper changing for the youngest children, disinfecting play surfaces and toys, changing and washing bed linen etc. All these tasks demand that educators and their assistants possess knowledge of health and hygiene standards, as well as preventive measures to stop the spread of infectious diseases.
Therefore, every preschool teacher and assistant must have the necessary competencies to ensure a safe, healthy, and supportive environment for children. In the theoretical part of my research, I will focus on the health and hygiene care provided by preschool professionals. I will examine in detail the importance of practicing personal hygiene, recognizing infectious diseases, and taking appropriate action in response to their occurrence. Furthermore, I will explore how well educators are trained to implement measures when infections arise, their knowledge of protocols, and how their actions contribute to preventing the spread of disease within the preschool setting.
In the empirical part, I will use a questionnaire to examine the competencies of preschool teachers and their assistants in the aforementioned areas. I will focus on identifying any gaps in knowledge and implementation of health and hygiene practices, as well as analyzing where, if, and why such deficiencies occur. Special attention will also be given to the collaboration between educators, preschool management, nutrition and hygiene coordinators, and parents. Effective communication and cooperation among all involved parties are crucial for the successful implementation of a health and hygiene regime in preschool, and this aspect will also be analyzed.
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