Spatial Perspective on Everyday Transitions Within a Toddler Group Care Setting

Abstract

This chapter builds on spatial approaches to study everyday life, and in particular to consider Henri Lefebvre’s (1901–1991) theory on the social production of space. Lefebvre’s ideas on the social production of space are based on a dynamic “spatial triad” of conceived (representations of space), perceived (socio-spatial practices), and lived space (representational space). The aim of this chapter is to discuss, by building on Lefebvre’s approach, the spatial dynamics involved within the small-scale (horizontal) transitions for children in toddler group care. The discussion is based on a study where one Finnish day care group for 1- to 3-year-olds was investigated by applying a spatial, relational perspective to toddlers’ everyday lives. Various data, such as video-elicited interviews and audio recordings from the practitioners’ meetings and observations and video recordings about practices, will be used to bring empirical evidence on how these three moments, or layers, of conceived, perceived, and lived space in social production of space are interlinked within the transitory events.