• Prof. Rekha Sharma Sen

The Project Work 2/ Internship 2 is the eighth Course of this Post Graduate Diploma. This component will provide the learner hands-on experience of working with children in early primary grades (classes 1 and 2). Details regarding the Project Work/Internship are stated in the Project Work/Internship Manual 2. However, some salient information about carrying out the Project Work is provided further in the next paragraph, in Box 1 and also in the ‘Evaluation’ section of this Programme Guide. As in Internship 1, you have to identify a primary school and work with one group/ section of children in Class 1/ Class 2 for 20 working days totaling 120 hours, under the guidance and supervision of primary teacher there, as per the guidelines given in the Project Work Manual 2. 28 You can also take the support of the Academic Counselor at the Study Centre to identify the preschool. However, the identification of the primary school is your responsibility. Attending the counseling sessions related to this Course will help you to sort out doubts and challenges in carrying out the project work/internship by discussing the various aspects with the Academic Counselor. The primary teacher will provide day-to-day guidance.

• Prof. Rekha Sharma Sen

To foster the development of young children, it is important to understand how children develop from one year to the next. In Course I you will read about the physical, motor, language, cognitive, social and emotional development of children. The Course will help you to develop an understanding about the needs and rights of children and give you a perspective on the socio-cultural context of childhood. You will also 10 read about ways of fostering children’s development through play activities, and the basic principles of organizing creches, preschools and day care centres.

• Prof. Rekha Sharma Sen

This Course talks about the health and nutritional needs of young children. Good health and proper nutrition are prerequisites for optimum development. The Course material will help you to identify common childhood illnesses, take immediate care of the sick child and take preventive measures. You will learn the principles of planning balanced diets for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and pregnant and lactating mothers. You will also study the major nutritional deficiency diseases and come to know about some major nutrition and health programmes in our country.

• Prof. Rekha Sharma Sen

Through this Course you will come to know about the services available in our country for children, and the organizations working for the development of children. Reading through this Course will also enable you to know about children with disabilities, to be alert to early symptoms indicative of disability, to be able to take care of disabled children within the setting of the preschool or the creche and to take preventive action. This Course will also help to strengthen your skills of interacting with the community and to be able to impart simple health, nutrition and preschool education messages.

• Prof. Rekha Sharma Sen

The Project Work forms the fourth Course of the Diploma. We anticipate that through this Course you will be able to experience the “feel” of working with children in a preschool setting. The details regarding how the Project Work is to be carried out are specified in the Project Manual. However, some salient information about carrying out the Project Work is provided in Section 6.