PATERNAL PARTICIPATION IN ACTIVITIES WITH THE CHILD

Antonia Rosana Souza Castro (home visitor in Pentecoste/CE) developed an action strategy to strengthen the paternal bond through play and saw the pandemic as the ideal time to apply it.

With the father figure more present at home due to the social isolation measures, Antonia agreed with the family that the father would perform the playing activity at least once a week. “Everyone in the house must collaborate, whether in caring for the children or in domestic activities,” she advised.

Another of Antonia's tips for strengthening the family bond is that caregivers watch and listen to the guidelines she gives together. “Men often think that taking care of the child is the mother's task. They need an invitation, a little push to get involved with the children, but then they feel important,” she added.

After the visitor's orientation, one father sat on the floor to play games that help the baby to crawl. When thinking back on the activity, the mother said that the father was so excited that he started playing with the baby often. Other games the visitor suggested to the families are traditional, such as playing ball, playing hide and seek, among others.

Antonia also highlighted the importance of adopting a suitable language for contacting the families and that the caregivers' return visits mostly happened through audio messages, photos, and videos on WhatsApp. “They find it easier because many of them don't know how to read and/or write.” domestic accidents. During remote visits, she gave simple video and audio tips, such as turning pan handles inward while cooking, storing cleaning products in places out of children's reach, and leaving matches, lighters, and medicine out of sight.

The support the supervisor gave was essential for Antonia to carry out her activities. “When I learned that I would have to go to a neighborhood that had a reputation for violence, I was very apprehensive, but my supervisor reassured me. Today I see that the people there need a lot of help and are not in that situation by choice,” she concluded.