Opstapje

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Opstapje is a preventive game and learning program for small children ( compensatory education ).

The aim of Opstapje (Dutch for level / advancement ) is to promote the age-appropriate development of children and to strengthen parents in their role as educators. This strengthens the bond between parents and children and promotes equal opportunities.

The focus is on supporting parents in their upbringing and educational tasks. Regular home visits give mothers and fathers suggestions for active play with their child. The program is divided into clear units. Parents receive index cards with suggestions for activities for the units and for game situations. In regular group meetings, the families participating in the program exchange their experiences and what has been learned is deepened.

target group

Originally, Opstapje only addressed parents who, for various reasons, found it difficult to cater to the needs of their children. It was aimed at parents who were affected by structural and social disadvantage (such as relative poverty, unemployment, unfavorable housing conditions or a migration background), who lived in a burdened family situation (for example, conflicts, divorce or separation, single parents) or who were under individual stress ( e.g. chronic illnesses, psychological problems, isolation, low level of education). The program was not aimed at so-called multi-problem families.

This would have overstrained the capabilities of the semi-professional house visitors. However, in certain situations it is possible to also take in those families if good care is guaranteed in the respective problem areas.

In the meantime, Opstapje has been expanded and adapted. Today Opstapje is also aimed at families who are interested in the development and upbringing of their children and who want to expand them.

Scientific evaluation of Opstapje

Thanks to Opstapje, the participating children, of whom almost 50% were below the average in their development level at the beginning of the program, moved positively towards an age-appropriate development level. At the beginning of the program, almost half of the participating children were at least slightly delayed in their intelligence development. Most of them made up this development deficit. Many Opstapje children had deficits in their motor development. More than half of the children were able to improve this in the course of the program, and the more so, the lower the starting level. Many Opstapje children initially showed impaired behavioral development. These improved over the course of the program.

However, there are also negative results. The program's successes only occasionally proved to be permanent. Nine months after the end of Opstapje, the observed progress in intelligence development, motor and behavioral development was maintained or even increased in only a few children. This shows the importance of continuing such programs in the family.

The program was also successful for the parents. For example, they attributed significantly improved problem-solving skills to themselves after participating in the program. After taking part in the program, the participating mothers experienced less psychological stress and established more social contacts.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Alexandra Sann, Kathrin Thrum: "Opstapje - step by step". Practical Guide. 2005. German Youth Institute eV
  2. ↑ Alexandra Sann, Kathrin Thrum: "Opstapje - step by step". Practical Guide. 2005. German Youth Institute eV

literature

  • Marie-Cecile Bertau, Thomas Meier (ed.): Opstapje - step by step - promoting language acquisition and communicative skills in preschool and elementary school age . Documentation of the workshop. Munich: 2001 German Youth Institute
  • ITS-Nijmegen (ed.): Uerz, Dana; Mulder, Lia: Characteristics and Achievements of Participants in the "Opstapje Program" . Nijmegen: 2002
  • GA Kohnstamm, G. Meesters, MA Simons: You can perceive it, but not measure it. A study of the effects of "Opstapje" on children of Turkish origin . State University of Leiden, 1997
  • Alexandra Sann, Kathrin Thrum: Perspectives on preventive early intervention in the context of social disadvantage. The preventive early intervention program "Opstapje - step by step" for families with two to four year old children in scientifically supported initial deployment in the FRG. In: ISA Institute for Social Work (Ed.): Contributions to the ISA Congress. 2003
  • Peter Tellegen: Opstapje en Opstap. The influence of the funding program on the development of the intelligence of allochthonous children. An examination with the non-verbal intelligence test . University of Groningen: 2002

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