MiniVerso for early education

MiniVerso matching as a builder of well-being in early childhood education and care units.

What is MiniVerso?

MiniVerso, a mediation model for the early childhood education field produced by the VERSO programme, 
was developed in 2011 to support the culture of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in the area of children's rights,
to strengthen inclusion and community in conflict situations.

MiniVerso is a clear method for staff trained in mediation to
member helps children to find solutions to disputes themselves.
MiniVerso creates opportunities to practice social and interaction skills through play
by.

A restorative approach reinforces a conciliatory culture and a restorative
mediation offers an alternative method to resolve conflicts between children in everyday life
in action.

Contact us!
The child listens while the mediator presents the Mediation Adventure board game.

MiniVerso trainings for early childhood education and care

1. Start-up training package

The starter training package includes staff training and a day of children's training, as well as maintenance Teams meetings after the training. The Mediation Launch Training is intended for the whole work community and the pre-service staff.
Our training can be delivered face-to-face or remotely.

a) Start-up training for the staff of the ECEC unit

  • Duration 3- 4 hours
  • for the whole work community, up to about 40 participants
  • can be implemented by combining small units
Content of the training:
  • From disputes to solutions: mediation as a cornerstone of community well-being and culture
  • Getting to know the background of mediation and the impact of restorative encounters in the field of education
  • The role of the mediator and the stages of mediation
  • Maintenance of mediation activities

b) Education for children through puppetry

  • 4 training sessions with the same content during the training day, each session lasting about 40 min.
  • maximum group size of around 25 children per training event
  • education is aimed at children aged 4-6, mediation is aimed at the whole community
  • are carried out on the premises of the early childhood education and care centre or by distance learning
Content of the training:
  • Modelling the MiniVerso mediation method through puppetry
  • Practising mediation through play in small groups

2. Mediation maintenance training

The maintenance trainings will support the MiniVerso activities that have already been launched in the community. The aim is to activate the rooting and maintenance of mediation activities in the foster community. The training sessions do not include any material to be distributed. The trainings will be conducted as distance trainings.

The child looks at the picture on the mediation card.

a) Staff maintenance training

  • Aimed at new employees of MiniVerso trained units who have not undergone training
  • Duration 3 hours + MiniVerson online course
  • Approximately one year after the start of operations or as required by the client

b) Refresher training for staff

  • Aimed at communities that have undergone MiniVerso training or, for example, as a group for educators from different units in the area when there is a need to review the basics of mediation.
  • Duration 2 hours + MiniVerson online course
  • Approximately one year after the start of operations or as required by the client

Objectives of MiniVerso trainings

  • Community members will be informed about the restorative approach and the MiniVerso mediation activities. 
  • Reliance by educators on children's expertise in conflict situations and a new view of dispute ownership.
  • A culture change towards conflict management that empowers children and prevents exclusion.
  • Strengthening children's interaction skills and dealing with everyday disputes as early as possible
  • Children would learn to ask for mediation help themselves and to settle disputes that arise in everyday life.

Social and Health Organisations Assistance Centre STEA supports With Veikkaus money for our activities. The subscriber pays the training's own contribution. The demand for training is high, so please book your community training well in advance.

Listen to the experiences of MiniVerso
Waves of mediation- from our podcast:

Episode 7:

Mini by Mikkeli

Episode 13:

Interview with a pre-schooler