“Journey of the Child Development Specialist” Event Held on May 20 Child Development Specialists Day

The event was held at the Ötüken Hall inside the Mehmet Akif Ersoy Hall in Block J of Istanbul Gelisim University with the participation of Vice Dean of Health Sciences, Assistant Professor Funda Karabıyık Pehlivan. The opening speech was delivered by the Head of the Department of Child Development, Associate Professor Nurten Elkin. As part of the program, Research Assistant Kevser Tuğba Çınar Karasu presented “The Past, Present, and Future of Child Development,” Research Assistant Hatice Zelal Bingöl presented “Touching Little Hearts,” Research Assistant Rabia Ceren Çavga presented “Being a Child Development Specialist in the Field,” and Research Assistant Aişe Büşra Ciğer presented “The Vision of the Child Development Specialist.”

The event, which started with the opening speech of Associate Professor Nurten Elkin, included discussions on the academic, social, and field experiences of child development specialists. Attention was also drawn to the critical role of the profession in children’s developmental processes. The program attracted great interest from students and became an important meeting point for increasing professional awareness and strengthening the sharing of experiences.

In her presentation titled “The Past, Present, and Future of Child Development,” Research Assistant Kevser Tuğba Çınar Karasu talked about the history of the Child Development Department in Türkiye, including its name changes, its relations with ministries, the lack of legal regulations, confusion in job descriptions, and practical difficulties faced in the field.

In her speech titled “Touching Little Hearts,” Research Assistant Hatice Zelal Bingöl stated that child development is not only a profession but also a meaningful field that carries the responsibility of bringing hope and leaving a positive impact on children’s lives. Sharing examples from her own academic journey, Bingöl emphasized the importance of perseverance. She explained that child development specialists are people who understand children’s emotions, support families, and contribute to the future of society. She ended her speech by highlighting the social importance of the profession with the words: “A strong future requires a strong generation, and this strong generation depends on us, the child development specialists.”

In her presentation titled “Being a Child Development Specialist in the Field,” Research Assistant Rabia Ceren Çavga emphasized the importance of using undergraduate years productively for professional development. She stated that internships, volunteer work, and field experiences during student years make a major contribution to professional preparation. Çavga also explained that child development specialists may face different challenges in professional life, such as communication with families, cooperation between institutions, and differences in field practices. She stressed that being patient, solution-oriented, and open to continuous self-improvement is very important for professional success.

In her speech titled “The Vision of the Child Development Specialist,” Research Assistant Aişe Büşra Ciğer emphasized that child development specialists should continuously support not only their professional skills but also their personal development. She also pointed out the importance of critically re-evaluating current child development literature. According to the speaker, some theoretical and practical approaches should be adapted to today’s world in line with changing social dynamics and modern needs. She stated that diversifying academic resources used in the field would strengthen an interdisciplinary perspective and provide a more holistic approach to child development studies.

We would like to thank all our students and participants who attended the event.