About ICDP

INTERNATIONAL CHILD DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME

International child development programme (ICDP) is an international centre, registered as a charitable organization in Norway. The organization has a network of professionals in the field of early child development. Their main aim is to improve the quality of care of the risk children .

The network of ICDP group covers more than 40 countries: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Romania, Moldova, Russia, Japan, USA, Kyrgyzstan, Ukraine, China, Nepal, Macedonia, Bosnia, Portugal, England, Italy, Palestine, Jamaica, Brazil, Colombia, Argentina, Paraguay, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, El Salvador, Guatemala, Angola, Ethiopia, Congo, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, South Africa, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Australia, etc.

The main motto of the program – the best way to help children is by helping adults who care of them.

Direction

ICDP implements its own projects only to a small extent. Our main focus is the cooperation with international organizations, local non-governmental organizations or individuals that are already active in the region. Professionals ICDP tend to improve adult competence in education, development and teaching children. These trainings are aimed at building interaction between parents and their children.

Apart from the trainings, the ICDP professionals follow and assess the implementation of the project. I the need arises the appropriate moral and educational support is given.

How it all began

International child development programme(ICDP) began to develop in 1985.

Initially worked a small team of professionals, which has been associated with the universities in Oslo and Bergen. Preparatory work was carried out in the early 80-ies headed Karsten Hundeide and Henning Rye. The idea was to develop a programme of intervention, which would lay psychological research. In 1986, contacts were established with a University Professor Bar Plan in Israel Pnin Klein began working with program MISC - More Intelligent Sensitive Child (More intelligent sensitive child). In MISC the intellectual development of the child was the main priority and the emotional side of a child's life were underestimated . And even cultural differences were not taken into consideration .

The authors continued the search. For that purpose they have developed a programme that promotes communication and good relationships between adults and children.

The ICDP approach is based on the idea that the best way to help your child is to help adults who care of a child. ICDP promotes dialogue and good quality interaction between adults and children.

An international team was formed in Norway in 1992, in Oslo was registered charitable organization.

Karsten Hundeide was Head of the organization until the end of his life. He died in September 2011.

The main sponsor of all ICDP projects from the very beginning was Marcus Hoff Berg.

Now Chairman of the International Child Development Programme is Nicoletta Armstrong. Nicoletta was one of the founders of the ICDP, member of the Board. From the outset, together with the Karsten Hundeide participated in organizational and promotional work, developed didactic and monitoring materials.

Karsten Hundeide, Henning Rye and Nicoletta Armstrong on a picture.

In 1993, the ICDP programme was evaluated and later adopted by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, who also published as a WHO document.

Also there has been close cooperation with UNICEF, which in some countries lasted for many years.

The main features of the International Child Development Programme

The program does not impose ready-made formulas from outside, instead, it works within any given culture, according to universal guidelines and revitalized local child rearing practices.

Identifies that which is already positive in order to built on existing conceptions and practical experiences that are found in everyday life .

ICDP dignities:

1. Simplicity. The program is based on simple principles that are easy to understand to everyone.

2. The emphasis on action. We may think about their knowledge and abilities or anything, but if not, then do not know how. So in the program we focus on learning through practice.

3. Versatility. Although the program was initially intended for young children, it was found that the principles laid in the basis of this program, perfectly fit for all other ages, including adults.

4. One of the important advantages of the ICDP program is flexibility. The program is adaptable to the local conditions of the work while maintaining the basic principles and main course ICDP. Thus, the program can be adapted to the peculiarities of work in separate organizations, social centers, etc. It can also be adapted to the peculiarities of work with a specific category of population.

The program aims work in three directions:

- with parents

- with children

- with professionals.

The most important components of ICDP:

1. The perception of the child's caregiver.

2. Three of the dialogue and the eight principles of positive interaction with the child.

3. Seven principles of sensitizing the parents.

4. Principles of application.

ICDP may be useful:

1. For individual work with the child. Using the 8 principles of positive interaction has a positive impact on the result.

2. For family counseling. The program provides criteria by which to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the interaction between parents and children.

3. For individual counseling of parents. The program makes it easier to communicate and to have good relationships between adults and children.

In addition ICDP helps parents:

1. to achieve positive interaction with their children.

2. to reduce worriment and aggression .

3. in cases where psychotherapy forbidden. Distinctive principles of the program is positive reinforcement, activation positive parenting practices and increased sensitivity towards the child.

ICDP is effective in individual and group work.

The main objectives of the ICDP program:

1. The positive impact on the experience of the adult towards the child. An adult will be able to join and "feel" the child, to feel its condition and needs and on this basis to adapt own actions for childs needs and initiatives.

2. Fosters sensitive emotional communication and interaction between parent and child, which can lead to positive emotional and developmental relations.

3. achieve the full potential for positive interaction between caregivers and their children by raising the awareness of caregivers of their children’s psycho-social needs and by enhancing their ability to respond to them .

Positive aspects of communication are:

- attention and the ability to recognize the emotional cues of the child

- feedback and extension.

- praise.

- encouragement of the child’s ability to control his behavior.