The Webdidactica conference, “The Romania of the future begins in preschool - practical tools for early education” organized by the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania, offered concrete solutions for educators and parents in Romania. Childhood today is marked by early exposure to screens and a fragmentation of attention, and experts explained that the solution does not lie in strict restrictions, but in creating learning contexts that make sense to the child.
Ioana Popa, an education expert, emphasized that a preschooler’s ability to stay focused depends directly on an adult’s ability to create “magic” using simple tools, such as varying their tone of voice or clearly structuring the daily routine.
“The magic happens through the way we use our voices. When the classroom gets noisy, the most important thing is to speak as softly as possible, so they’ll be curious to hear us. Also, organizing the day with pictograms helps children visualize what’s coming next: from handwashing to fruit break or circle time.”
Another key theme was that of healthy stimulation as opposed to digital overstimulation. School inspector Luisa Cerasela Drăgoi pointed out that educators must take advantage of the “unexpected” abilities of today’s children by providing them with multisensory activities that keep them engaged.
“We shouldn’t be afraid of the children of today, but rather understand that they are interested in varied learning contexts. These are children who easily move from one task to another if it makes sense to them. Our challenge is to adapt our teaching practices, to be the ones who are constantly evolving to meet their needs.”
Clinical psychologist Monica Bolocan pointed out that the primary mission of preschool is to identify children’s abilities early on, so as not to let society’s resources go to waste.
“Identifying talent is essential now, because we are laying the foundation for the future. Children are society’s greatest asset, and we must guide them on the right path and not let them go to waste. A genuine assessment means direct observation, not just subjective impressions.”
In this regard, the conference highlighted the importance of family rituals, with journalist Simona Gherghe sharing a personal example of how reading can successfully compete with the allure of technology.
“I think reading is essential. We have this bedtime ritual: I read them stories, we read the Harry Potter books together, and only then did we watch the movies. This habit helps develop their language skills and gives them a sense of calm that no screen can match.”
Atena Boca, founder of the “La Primul Bebe” community, spoke about the “village” that today’s mothers lack and the overwhelming loneliness that becomes an obstacle to healthy growing.
“The biggest problem for mothers of young children is loneliness. They leave their homes and find themselves trapped between four walls with a baby, without the village that used to support them. Mothers need to take the time to look within themselves, to see what needs healing, so that they can be emotionally free for their children.”
The Webdidactica conference emphasizes that the teacher's role is that of a "translator" between a child's potential and social reality. To support this process, the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania invites kindergartens to sign up for the "Preschool Olympics" campaign by May 8. The project provides free interdisciplinary assessment sheets, tailored to the children’s age group, which allow teachers to objectively observe each child’s progress. Registration remains open, offering a unique opportunity to transform assessment into a positive process that gives young children a “taste of success.”
The Webdidactica conference is available on the YouTube channel of the Dan Voiculescu Foundation for the Development of Romania.
