AFETO E CUIDADO NA EDUCAÇÃO INFANTIL: REFLEXÕES A PARTIR DE ESTÁGIOS

Abstract

This paper seeks to reflect on the importance of affection and care in Early Childhood Education, considering both the theoretical dimension and the practical experiences gained during the compulsory internships of the Pedagogy course at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, with children aged 1 to 5 years. It adopts an approach that uses personal records, initially field diaries, as a resource for memory and analysis of lived experiences. The text explores how sensitive listening, dialogue, and small gestures of attention can foster emotional bonds and mediate learning, while also addressing the challenges of teacher training to develop pedagogical practices that are more attentive to the emotional and relational dimension with children. In addition, it discusses situations of violence and child neglect observed in the school context, emphasizing the need for teachers to adopt an ethical, empathetic, and responsible attitude in the face of such occurrences. From this perspective, the work emphasizes the role of the educator as an agent of protection and care, capable of recognizing signs of suffering, promoting a safe environment, and contributing to the integral development of children.