Perception of managers of early childhood education spaces about the Child Citizen extension project

Abstract

Introduction: The "Criança Cidadã" project aims to democratize science through educational and pedagogical activities, intervening in issues that affect the lives of children in vulnerable situations. Objective: To understand the perception of managers of formal and informal early childhood education spaces about the “Criança Cidadã” project. Method: This is a qualitative study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with managers of three educational institutions located in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, who participated in the Project in the period 2022-2024. Data analysis was based on Bardin's theoretical-methodological framework, using thematic content analysis. Results: Eleven managers participated in the study. Two categories emerged from the analysis: “Conformation of the target audience of the Criança Cidadã project” and “Learnings perceived by managers from the Criança Cidadã project”. The interviews showed that the children served live in socioeconomic vulnerability, violence and abandonment, which hinder their development. However, the managers emphasize that the project had a positive impact, improving children's learning and self-esteem, in addition to promoting a culture of self-care and awareness in families. Conclusion: The "Criança Cidadã" project appears to contribute significantly to children's cognitive, affective and psychomotor development, highlighting the importance of continuing and expanding health education actions.