PROGRAMME – DAY ONE

Opening ceremony

14:00 – 14:15

Keynote Speakers

14:15 – 15:30

Assoc. Prof. Jera Gregorc, PhD,

is affiliated with the University of Ljubljana, where her scientific and teaching work focuses on topics related to kinesiology, physical activity, and children’s motor development. Her research is directed toward the impact of physical activity on the health and holistic development of children in preschool and early school age.

She has a particular interest in the development of motor competencies and the promotion of an active and healthy lifestyle from the earliest age. She is the author of numerous scientific and professional publications and actively participates in international research projects and scientific conferences.

University of Ljubljana, Slovenia

When Safety Limits Development: The Role of Risky Play in Early Childhood Health — Risky Play as a Biological Necessity, Not a Pedagogical Error

Maja Lang Morović, PhD,

works at the Croatian Institute of Public Health, where her work focuses on health promotion, with a particular emphasis on children’s health. She is involved in the development and implementation of public health interventions aimed at promoting healthy growth and development, as well as the adoption of healthy lifestyle habits.

Her work places special emphasis on a healthy start in life—promoting breastfeeding, healthy growth and development, the improvement and preservation of children’s and families’ health, and community empowerment. She obtained her interdisciplinary education at the Faculty of Education and Rehabilitation Sciences and the School of Medicine at the University of Zagreb, as well as at Harvard University, where she completed a postgraduate interdisciplinary program in Mind, Brain, and Education.

She actively participates in professional projects, educational activities, and public health initiatives focused on preserving and improving the health of all members of society, especially the youngest.

Croatian Institute of Public Health, Croatia

Childhood as the Foundation of Health: Opportunities and Challenges in Health Promotion

Prof. Sanja Tatalović Vorkapić, PhD,

is a psychologist who has been employed at the Faculty of Teacher Education at the University of Rijeka for 21 years. Her scientific interests lie in the fields of personality psychology and positive psychology, encompassing mental health, well-being, social-emotional competencies, resilience, transitions and adaptation, as well as individual differences among children, preschool teachers, and school teachers within the educational context.

She is the author of 230 scientific and professional publications and participates in national and international projects focused on well-being in education. She is the recipient of the University of Rijeka Award for Best Scientist in the Social Sciences, as well as the Award for Teaching Excellence. She is the editor-in-chief of the scientific journal Educational Topics and serves as the head of the School Psychology Section of the Croatian Psychological Association.

Faculty of Teacher Education, University of Rijeka, Croatia

Contemporary Education and Childhood: Creating Space for Well-Being

Poster presentations

15:30 – 16:15

Poster viewing, discussion with authors, and refreshments

Oral presentations

16:15 – 17:15

Round Tabel Discussion

17:30 – 19:00

Akvilina Čamber Tambolaš, PhD

Kindergarten Culture: What Does Research Tell Us, and What Do We Recognise in Practice?

This session will present key findings from research on the culture of early childhood education and care institutions, conducted among early childhood educators in four counties of the Republic of Croatia as part of Akvilina Čamber Tambolaš’s doctoral research. The presentation will be followed by an open dialogue with participants.

Drawing on the research findings, participants will reflect on their relevance to their own professional experiences, discuss the extent to which the findings correspond to everyday practice, and identify factors that support or hinder the development of a positive institutional culture. The aim is not to provide predetermined solutions, but to create a space for the exchange of perspectives and professional experiences and for exploring possible directions for the further development and improvement of practice.

PROGRAMME – DAY TWO

Morning Gathering and Networking

09:30 – 10:00

Interactive Lecture / Workshop

10:00 – 11:30

Sanja Hajdin, MA in Education

The Role of Creative Thinking in Childhood

Target audience: students

In the context of contemporary challenges facing childhood and the promotion of health and well-being, fostering creative thinking represents an important protective factor in children’s overall development. Creativity is not merely a means of self-expression; it is a key competence that enables children to approach problems flexibly, adapt to changing circumstances, and develop emotional resilience. These capacities contribute to their ability to function and thrive healthily throughout later life.

This interactive session, combining a lecture with elements of a practical workshop, will introduce participants to specific approaches for nurturing children’s curiosity and divergent thinking. Through practical examples from educational settings, participants will explore how everyday situations can be transformed into opportunities for deeper cognitive engagement, exploration, and creative problem-solving.

The aim is to provide participants with practical and applicable tools for supporting the development of children who are confident, creative, adaptable, and better equipped to navigate the uncertainties and challenges of the future.