Songpa District Childcare Support Center Wins Top Prize for "Developmental Companion Growth Journey" Program
On December 3, Songpa District in Seoul (headed by Mayor Seo Kangseok) announced that it had received the Minister of Education Award for two consecutive years in the "Infant and Toddler Care Practice and Development Support Case Contest" organized by the Korea Childcare Promotion Institute.
Songpa District received the Minister of Education Award for two consecutive years in the "Infant and Toddler Care Practice and Development Support Case Contest." Provided by Songpa District.
The contest was held over two months starting in August, targeting the general public and 140 childcare support centers nationwide. The Songpa District Childcare Support Center submitted its customized intervention model for infants and toddlers with developmental delays, titled "Developmental Companion Growth Journey: An Oasis Expanding to Daycare Centers, Homes, and the Community," and won the top prize among more than 180 entries nationwide.
"Developmental Companion" is a newly introduced term by the district to alleviate the burden of negative expressions such as "delay" or "disability." By using this term, the psychological barrier is lowered, enabling caregivers and daycare teachers to intervene quickly and support infants and toddlers experiencing developmental delays.
The core of the program is comprehensive support based on play and daily routines. Early intervention specialists visit homes to guide caregivers, while professional staff from the center visit daycare centers to observe children's play, conduct screening tests, and provide counseling to teachers and parents, carefully monitoring and coaching the children's developmental progress.
Last year, the "Spielraum," a play space exclusively for infants, was selected as an outstanding case in the childcare support project and received the Minister of Education Award. Located within the Songpa District Childcare Support Center, Spielraum is a leading childcare facility in the region where the unique characteristics and developmental progress of infants can be quietly observed and supported through tailored play activities.
The district has shifted from one-time support to a continuous, multi-session model to more closely monitor the growth of infants and toddlers at risk of developmental delays. The district was also highly praised for establishing a robust integrated development support system connecting daycare centers, homes, and the local community through collaboration with the Korea Association for Infant Development Early Intervention.
The award ceremony was held on December 1 at the Landing Ballroom of Jeju Shinhwa World during the "National Childcare Support Center Project Report Conference," with the center director and district officials in attendance.
Seo Kangseok, Mayor of Songpa District, stated, "Songpa District is providing comprehensive support to help families overcome various challenges in child-rearing through timely early intervention. We will continue to do our utmost to create a safe and supportive educational environment where parents can raise their children with peace of mind."
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