4/7: Today, for our BRISE series, we spoke with Türkan Erdogan from "ProKind". She accompanies and supports BRISE families and knows that taking small steps makes it much easier to reach the goal.
The "ProKind" home visit program of the German Red Cross (DRK) Bremen branch supports families in challenging circumstances. For several years, it has collaborated with the BRISE research initiative. The "ProKind" family midwives also support families participating in BRISE.
Türkan Erdogan has been working at "ProKind" since 2013 and has so far accompanied and supported five BRISE families on their journey to create the best possible environment for themselves and their children's development. We have already heard from BRISE families how positively participation can affect them and how significant the influence of parents can be on their child's development.
The BRISE families we interviewed were particularly enthusiastic about the support provided by the family midwife. That's why we decided to follow up with you.
Ms. Erdogan, what do you like most about your work as a family midwife?
"What I love about my work is seeing the progress and the step the family has taken at the end, and being able to say, 'We've done it!' Even if it only seems like a small piece of the puzzle. One of ProKind's mottos is 'Small steps can achieve great things.' I've found that this approach, taking small steps, makes reaching the goal much more certain. And seeing THAT at the end, yes, that's what truly brings me joy!"
Can you give us examples where parents wanted to do something differently or better in their everyday family life with your support?
"It's happened a few times that the TV was on and the child was sitting in front of it while the mother was busy with something else. I noticed that this situation changed through conversations between me and the mother. Two weeks later, the mother told me that she hadn't realized that television consumption at that age could have such negative effects. She knew then that her behavior would change.".
Another example is nutrition. It starts with introducing solid foods. Parents quickly realize that their mother or father is always a role model. Children imitate everything you do – and that includes eating habits. Therefore, it's important to recognize this role model function and to continually remind parents of it. I often see mothers who recognize this – and as a result, something changes in the family's daily life.
In what ways does your support strengthen families?
"For me, it's always important to convey that it's good to seek help and support. Another example concerns single mothers. I show them that many things are possible by motivating them and highlighting their strengths. I want them to realize that they can manage it, for example, by completing a school leaving certificate or vocational training alongside everyday life with their child."
Do you have another example?
"For example, how parents can play together with their children. There are mothers who don't sit on the floor with their child or play with them because they can't imagine how to play with a five-month-old baby. I then show them how to play successfully and what reactions they can observe in their baby."
"Or when I explain to the mothers, for example, 'If you do this, you'll see this reaction in your child.' When the mothers then recognize exactly this in their interactions with their child, they're delighted. Or when I read from our NEST materials , which describe what babies do at around three months old, and the mothers then say, 'Yes, our little one does that too!' or 'That's right, she's been doing that since last week!' or 'Not that yet, but I'm sure she will next week.' In this way, the mothers learn to pay much more attention to their child and its development."
And what I always tell the mothers is, "Under no circumstances should you compare – because every child is different!".
If a developmental milestone has not yet been reached, I recommend that parents discuss this with their pediatrician or contact an early intervention center in Bremen . If the parents wish, I can also accompany them.
Türkan Erdogan is a family midwife at Pro Kind, a home visit program of the German Red Cross Bremen branch. Since 2013, she has been supporting BRISE families on their journey.
