Abstract
The use of mobile technologies is playing an increasingly important role in early childhood education (ECE) settings. However, although technologies are often integrated in ECE provided in day care centres, technology use in other ECE settings, such as in family day care, is rare. In this paper, we describe the Digi-bag, a tablet-based mobile learning environment deployed at several family day care homes, and present the expectations and first experiences of family day care personnel regarding the pedagogical use of Digi-bags together with 1- to 5-year-old children as well as their experiences of training to use the digital technology. The results of the pilot study indicate that the deployment of Digi-bags facilitates the pedagogical, creative, and regular use of digital technology with small children. The study also underlines the importance of providing opportunities to family day care personnel for peer support and peer learning in natural settings besides professional training in the use of digital technologies.
Highlights
Child care, or family day care, has been defined as care given to a small group of children in the home of a child or a family day care practitioner [1]
In Finland, early childhood education (ECE) is provided in day care centres and family day care homes according to Finnish legislation [3]
There are differences between day care centres and family day care [5], for example, family day care takes place at homes and the group size is limited to four children, and the same curriculum is used in both ECE settings
Summary
Family day care, has been defined as care given to a small group of children in the home of a child or a family day care practitioner [1]. In the USA, this is a common form of nonparental care for young children, with more than 1 in 5 children under five years of age receiving family child care [2]. In Finland, early childhood education (ECE) is provided in day care centres and family day care homes according to Finnish legislation [3] (when emphasizing care as a part of early childhood education, the abbreviation ECEC (early childhood education and care) is used in ECE literature. We use the abbreviation of ECE to emphasize the educational aspects of professionals working with young children). 68% of 1- to 6-year-olds participate in ECE in Finland, of which 76% are in day care centres and 11% in family day care [4]. There are differences between day care centres and family day care [5], for example, family day care takes place at homes and the group size is limited to four children, and the same curriculum is used in both ECE settings
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