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The Centre and Casa Zoe have become like a family to us

For Simona, coming to the THSN partner Mission Bambini centre in Moncalieri (Turin) is like being part of a big family: it gave her the chance to meet other mums and dads, to get advice on bringing up her child, and to share snacks, stories and games with her daughter. And she is pleased with the progress Greta is making.

Taking part in the shared afternoon snack offered by the Centre has been a wonderful experience for our whole family, everyone brought something from home to share with the others. While my daughter Greta listened to the stories read by the teacher, me and my husband got to know the other mums and dads in an informal setting: it gave us a break from the usual daily routine, but also a chance for discussion. Speaking with the other mothers gave me some helpful ideas about how to deal with my four-year-old daughter's tantrums, and a few months ago, when Matteo was born, they recommended that I carry on spending some time alone with her, playing together and doing what she likes doing. The time we have spent at the Centre has been incredibly positive for my daughter too, who has had the chance to mix with other children.

Although she goes to nursery, I noticed that going to the Centre she has made significant progress, becoming much more outgoing compared to the shy girl she was: she has learned to trust others and interact more.

Plus, at nursery the children are alone with the teachers, while at the Centre the children have the parents with them as well. While sometimes at home it’s hard to find time to spend with your children, devoting yourself fully to them, at the Centre I was involved in lots of activities I can do with my daughter, such as painting, upcycling, or active storytelling. I now do these activities at home, too; we have now become experts at using simple household items for creating amazing handicrafts, and I often read stories to Greta! The Centre and Casa Zoe really have become like a family to us.

For Simona, coming to the THSN partner Mission Bambini centre in Moncalieri (Turin) is like being part of a big family: it gave her the chance to meet other mums and dads, to get advice on bringing up her child, and to share snacks, stories and games with her daughter. And she is pleased with the progress Greta is making.