ALLERGIES IN KINDERGARTEN - READINESS OF TEACHERS TO REACT TO ALLERGIES IN CHILDREN ATTENDING KINDERGARTEN

V diplomskem delu z naslovom Alergije v vrtcu – pripravljenost vzgojiteljev na alergije pri otrocih, vključenih v vrtec, so bili zbrani podatki dosedanjih znanstvenih spoznanj o alergijah. Delo je bilo osredotočeno na alergije pri otrocih, in sicer na najpogostejše vrste alergij, ki se pojavljajo med otroki, kako jih odkrivamo, preprečujemo in zdravimo. Podrobneje je bila opisana vloga staršev, vrtca in vzgojiteljev pri vključevanju otroka z alergijo v vrtec in kako poteka sodelovanje vrtca s starši in sodelovaje vrtca z zdravstvenimi institucijami. V empiričnem delu so bili predstavljeni rezultati raziskave, ki so bili pridobljeni s pomočjo ankete med vzgojitelji v vrtcih na območju Celja. Cilj raziskave je bil ugotoviti, koliko vzgojiteljev se pri svojem delu srečuje z otroki, ki imajo alergijo, na kakšen način so o tem obveščeni, ali so sami pripravljeni ukrepati ob pojavu alergijske reakcije, kako so vzgojitelji prišli do teh znanj in ali se na tem področju želijo strokovno še podkrepiti z izobraževanjem. Rezultati raziskave so podali zaskrbljujoče podatke, saj je kar 72 % oddelkov, kamor je vključen vsaj en otrok s posebnostjo alergije. Vzgojitelji so o alergijah dobro obveščeni, na ukrepe ob morebitnih alergijskih reakcijah pa so delno pripravljeni. Večina svoje znanje uporablja na podlagi osebnih izkušenj ali izmenjave izkušenj med sodelavci. V prihodnje si želijo svoje znanje o alergijah še nadgraditi.For the purpose of the thesis, entitled Allergies in kindergarten – preparedness of kindergarten teachers for allergies in children attending kindergarten, we collected data from allergy-related scientific findings, mainly focusing on allergies in children. We explored the most common types of allergies among children and looked into how to detect, prevent and treat them. We also described the role of parents, kindergartens and kindergarten teachers when a child with an allergy enters kindergarten, and examined the cooperation of the kindergarten with parents and health care institutions. The empirical part of the thesis contains the research findings from the survey among teachers working in kindergartens in the area of Celje. The purpose of the research was to determine how many teachers are working with children with allergies, how they were informed about it and whether they are prepared to tackle an allergic reaction. Moreover, it aimed establishing where the teachers acquired the knowledge and whether they would like to improve it through further education. The research results were alarming because we found that there is at least one child with an allergy in 72 % of kindergarten classes. Although the teachers are well informed about allergies, they remain only partially prepared to tackle an allergic reaction. The majority of them react on the basis of their own knowledge acquired through personal experience or exchange of experience with their coworkers. However, they would like to further enhance their knowledge of allergies