Context Of Early Childhood Education Research Articles

Insider Views and Practices of Translanguaging Classrooms in Early Childhood Education

This study, situated within the domain of language education, delves into the intricate dynamics of translanguaging practices and their profound influence on learning and teaching procedures in a linguistically and culturally enriched early childhood education environment. Focused on the context of Greece, the research aims to uncover the nuanced ways in which translanguaging shapes the language communication and interaction of four-year-old children, considering both native Greek speakers and their peers from migrant or refugee backgrounds. The study cohort consists of 50 children aged four, comprising both native Greek and migrant-background children attending early childhood education. Employing a comprehensive research approach, the study includes in-depth, semi-structured interview sessions with young children and specific observational protocols designed to capture authentic interactions and communications. These methods are employed to trace the development of intercultural awareness and sensitivity within an environment conducive to translanguaging. The findings highlight that the incorporation of translanguaging practices in early education settings not only refines communication and intercultural skills among young children but also significantly influences cultural awareness. Moreover, translanguaging fosters active engagement in learning activities and provides educators with valuable insights and support in implementing innovative language teaching techniques. This research contributes to the advancement of language education practices, particularly within linguistically and culturally diverse early childhood education contexts, emphasizing the transformative impact of translanguaging on crucial aspects of language learning and teaching.

Inseparable connections: Engaging children in a dialogue on beauty and justice

This article delves into the concept of beauty within the context of early childhood education and social justice. It proposes a pedagogical project to challenge prevailing beauty norms and encourage critical engagement. The project fosters dialogue among children and explores beauty through a garden visit. Through these discussions, the children’s evolving perspectives on beauty emerge, transcending surface-level appearances and appreciating the interconnectedness of all living entities. Drawing on philosophical concepts of beauty and dialogue, the author underscores the significance of active listening, encountering other perspectives, thoughtful contemplation and lingering for a more inclusive and equitable early childhood pedagogy.

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Learnings from Employing IPA as a Qualitative Methodology in Educational Research

Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) is an established qualitative methodology widely adopted within health-based research. However, one gap in the literature is that little has been written about IPA’s employability within educationally situated research. Our paper aims to demonstrate that IPA is a suitable methodology for education research. This paper has two parts. In the first part, the authors utilise the method of exegesis and theoretical analysis to explicate and provide clarity concerning the often-misunderstood philosophical and theoretical background of IPA. In the second part, we advocate for IPA as a suitable option for qualitative research in educational contexts. To execute this advocacy, the authors present a specific example of qualitative research that successfully employed IPA as its methodological approach and system for analysis. We present the details of a research project that utilised IPA to explore spirituality in early childhood education contexts, and in doing so the authors illustrate how the theories and methods of IPA can be actualised, thus introducing IPA into education contexts in a coherent fashion. The overall aim of the paper is to affirm IPA as a viable qualitative approach for education researchers.

Children's creative participation as a precursor of 21st century skills in Finnish early childhood education and care context

The purpose of this article is to study how children's creative participation as a precursor of 21st century skills is related to their skills and competencies, involvement, and class activities in the Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC) context. The study is part of the Finnish ECEC Progressive Feedback research and development project, which was conducted in 21 Finnish cities and companies providing ECEC services between 2017 and 2022. In this study, 5047 children aged between 1 and 7 years participated, using data which included both observation and child evaluations. Children's creative participation was examined using the social orientation theory together with the LI-SYC to focus on their involvement in class activities. The results showed that children's creative participation was related to their skills and competencies, involvement, and play as a class activity. The results emphasize the significance of creative participation as an indicator of quality and learning in ECEC. Educational relevance and implications statementThe results of this study show that creative participation as a precursor of 21st century skills (especially creativity and collaboration) is also an indicator of quality and learning today. Creative participation occurred in play as a class activity, and it was also connected with children evaluated individual skills and skills and competencies, especially creativity in pretend play and less support needs in language development. This is significant because with scaffolding and being conscious of the opportunities for creative participation in the pedagogy of early childhood education and care, it is possible to scaffold children's learning and well-being today and the skills and competencies they will need in the future.

Creativity in early childhood: how educators from Australia and Italy are documenting the creative thought processes of young children

Creative and critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making have attracted increasing interest over the last decade as key twenty-first century skills for education. While the Australian Curriculum implies that creativity should be applied to all learning domains, the Early Years Learning Framework for birth to 5 years (EYLF) largely relegates creativity to children’s expression through the creative arts. The world-renowned Reggio Emilia approach places creativity at the centre of its curriculum not as a creative product, but as a cognitive process. This paper draws upon recent research with early childhood teachers from NSW, Australia and Northern Italy who formed sister-centre relationships to share their perspectives on children’s creative thinking. Through email exchange, educators from each country sent three examples of centre documentation they believed demonstrated children’s creative thinking, with an invitation for a response from the sister centre. Vygotsky’s creative imagination theory, Malaguzzi and Rodari’s philosophies of creativity, imagination and education, provide theoretical frameworks to explain the creative processes of children. Findings suggest that the Australian educators in this study demonstrated the practice of responsiveness to children in co-constructing factual knowledge, while the Italian educators focused more on the processes of children’s thinking, with a view of the child as an imaginative and creative being. This paper argues that if creative thinking is an essential skill for lifelong learning, then more attention for how educators in early childhood education contexts are incorporating this into practice is needed.

The Komunikasi Partisipatif Antara Sekolah Dan Keluarga Dalam Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini di RA At Thoriq Batam

Early childhood education plays a crucial role in shaping a child's developmental foundation. In an effort to understand how early childhood education can be enhanced, this research delves into the theme of "Participatory Communication Between School and Family in Early Childhood Education at RA At Thoriq Batam." The research employs a qualitative approach and analyzes the dynamics of communication and family involvement within the context of early childhood education. This research underscores the significance of effective communication between the school and families in establishing a balanced educational environment. The research findings reveal various strategies and factors influencing the level of family involvement in early childhood education. These findings provide a profound insight into how participatory communication can strengthen collaboration between the school and families, ultimately yielding positive impacts on the development of young children. The implications of this research underscore that efforts to build and maintain effective communication between schools and families must be a priority in the context of early childhood education.

Creating early language education affordances in two pre-primary education classrooms

Recently, interest in language education in the early childhood education context has increased in research, curricula, and practice. This study contributes to this field by examining what kind of early language education (ELE) affordances are provided in Finland in two pre-primary classrooms, with two teachers, one using English and one using Swedish as a target language in the classroom. The data consist of video recordings of teaching, observation notes, and interviews with the teachers. The analysis using qualitative reflexive thematic analysis is informed by van Lier’s (2004) and Aronin and Singleton’s (2012) theorisation of affordances. The findings suggest that material affordances included using songs, stories, and pictures. Pedagogically, the teachers combined other curriculum contents with ELE and both shared the objective of implementing playful and action-based ELE, although neither teacher actively collaborated with their team of educators in planning or implementing ELE in practice. The social affordances provided for children by the teachers included promoting a positive atmosphere, pedagogical translanguaging through the teachers’ own use of languages, and creating opportunities for the children to become familiar with and learn the target language. The teachers also enabled social affordances produced by the children in form of their active participation, sharing ideas, and inventing novel ways to approach language education and peer collaboration. The findings offer insights into practices in ELE, the importance of varying ELE affordances for children’s learning and the value of integrating pedagogical translanguaging with whole-day pedagogy.

Enhancing Early Childhood Literacy through Reading Corners: A Phenomenological Study at Thiflah Early Childhood Education, Aceh Besar

This study explores the effectiveness of reading corners in enhancing literacy among early childhood learners at Thiflah Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Aceh Besar, Indonesia. Employing a phenomenological research design with qualitative methods, this study aims to understand the subjective experiences of educators and learners about literacy enhancement strategies. The research incorporated observations, interviews, and documentation, with a focus on the role of the reading corner in fostering literacy. Results indicated significant improvements in children’s engagement and comprehension in reading, writing, and arithmetic, attributed to the interactive and play-oriented learning environment. However, challenges such as insufficient resources and reliance on student teachers with limited experience were identified. The findings suggest that the reading corner approach, aligning with Indonesia's National Literacy Movement, can be a viable model for enhancing early literacy in various educational settings. The study recommends further research into the effectiveness of reading corners in diverse ECE contexts and emphasizes the need for resource enhancement and teaching methodology improvements. These insights are crucial for developing engaging, child-centric learning environments for early literacy development and overall child growth, contributing significantly to Indonesia's National Literacy Movement.

Introducing the PETaL approach in ECE classrooms in Indonesia

The study explores the implementation of the PETaL approach as a strategy to cultivate Intercultural Education (IE) in Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Indonesia through the lens of kindergarten teachers. The study implemented Mixed Methods Approach (Creswell & Clark, 2017) to provide reliable data about how the PETaL approach is perceived by teachers, and how it is actually being executed in the ECE context in Indonesia. The implementation included four hours of interventions to train participating teachers about Intercultural Education and a thorough introduction to the PETaL approach. This study used interviews and semi-structured observations as the instruments of the research. The data analyzed reported positive feedback from kindergarten teachers regarding the implementation of the PETaL approach in the Indonesian context. In accordance to how this approach has been applied, the study reported medium to high success rate in the application of the PETaL approach as the mean value showed 1,21 out of 2 in average with moderate to high variations. Conclusions indicate that the PETaL approach had been applied well by participating teachers of ECE in Indonesia, adhering coherently to its principles. Nevertheless, further training and continuous guidance are needed to improve the pertinence level of implementation in the Indonesian context.

Strategies for Enhancing Early Childhood Science Literacy Through STEAM Education

The primary objective of this study is to enhance young children's comprehension of scientific concepts by implementing the STEAM approach within the context of Early Childhood Education (PAUD). The STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Mathematics) pedagogy for preschoolers emphasizes dynamic learning, stimulates cognitive engagement, facilitates problem-solving, nurtures structured and methodical reasoning, and enhances critical thinking skills. Conducted using the Classroom Action Research method guided by the Kemmis cycle model, this study involves a cohort of 15 participants from group B, aged 5-6 years, and spans across preliminary cycles, Cycle I, and Cycle II, comprising phases of planning, execution, observation, and reflection. The comprehensive deliberation's outcome establishes the potential for enhancing scientific literacy among young children through the implementation of STEAM education. This advancement in scientific understanding is facilitated through captivating balloon experiments, utilizing colors that resonate with children's preferences. The attainment of scientific knowledge, as evident through the STEAM approach, manifests at a rate of 10% during the Pre-Cycle, 26% during Cycle I, and an impressive 72% during Cycle II. The cumulative findings unequivocally underscore the profoundly positive role of STEAM pedagogy in augmenting scientific cognizance during the formative years of early childhood.

Understanding Middle Eastern parents’ expectations for their children’s early education in New Zealand: Early childhood teachers’ perspectives

The Middle Eastern population in New Zealand has grown significantly in the past two decades. However, little is known about Middle Eastern parents’ expectations and their children’s experiences of the New Zealand early education system. The PhD research on which this article is based was an attempt to address this gap. The findings discussed in this article derive from semistructured interviews with four case-study teachers. Using thematic analysis and drawing on constructs from critical multiculturalism and funds of knowledge, I argue that there is a lack of congruence between the early childhood discourses promoted by the New Zealand teachers and Middle Eastern parents’ expectations for their children’s early education. Possible implications for early childhood pedagogy are suggested to meet the needs of increasingly ethnically and culturally diverse early childhood educational contexts.

Measuring Quality in Two Early Childhood Education Contexts: Centre-Based Childcare and Four-Year-Old Preschool

The quality of early childhood experiences is crucial to a child’s development and educational success. Yet few early childhood education and care services in the world today offer a consistently high level of educational quality. In particular, educational quality depends on the context’s characteristics. The aim of this study was therefore to measure and compare the educational quality experienced in two distinct educational contexts, located in Quebec: early childhood centres and 4-year-old preschools. Results of the study indicate that there are very few significant differences between these two educational contexts in terms of interaction quality and pedagogical orientations quality, while variables related to structural quality vary greatly. Correlational and regression analyses carried out separately on each educational context show that few variables are predictive of interaction quality levels, suggesting that other variables, notably related to pedagogical orientations quality, would better explain variations in adult-child interactions predictive of child development. These results have implications for initial training curriculum aimed towards adults working in early childcare and for future directions in research on educational quality, including rethinking the importance of pedagogical orientations and structures in the ecosystemic model of quality.

Development of Makassar Tribal Local Wisdom Theme in Early Childhood Education Main Activities

The present study focuses on the development of themes in play activities within the context of Early Childhood Education (ECE). The primary aims of this study are to ascertain the characteristics and requirements associated with the incorporation of local wisdom from the Makassar Tribe into children's play activities. The aim of this study is to determine the design of a prototype that incorporates the theme of indigenous wisdom from the Makassar Tribe within the context of early childhood education. The aim of this study is to evaluate the authenticity of the indigenous knowledge theme within the Makassar Tribe, specifically in relation to Early Childhood Education. The primary aim of this research is to evaluate the viability of integrating the indigenous wisdom of the Makassar Tribe into the framework of Early Childhood Education. This research methodology employs the process of Research and Development (R&D), encompassing the sequential steps of Define, Design, Development, and Dissemination. Nevertheless, this study only attained the Development phase. The data collection process encompassed the use of observation, questionnaire administration, and documenting approaches. The acquired data were subsequently subjected to a statistical analysis to evaluate the validity and usefulness of the product. The findings indicate the need of incorporating learning themes centred around the Makassar tribe local wisdom into early childhood play activities. The research has yielded several products, including prosem, RPPM, RPPH, and teaching guidebooks that document the advancement of the indigenous knowledge theme of the Makassar Tribe. The outcomes of the validity and practicality assessments indicate a high level of validity, suggesting that the created items are highly suited for use. This study investigates the evolution of indigenous knowledge within the Makassar Tribe, with a particular emphasis on many dimensions including language, music, clothing, regional dances, and traditional sports. The outcomes derived from this research will facilitate educators in effectively fostering children's learning via play, aligning with the Visitation Assessment Instrument (IPV) BAN PAUD and PNF (National Accreditation Board for Early Childhood Education and Non-Formal Education).

Optimization of the game improvement and data analysis model for the early childhood education major via deep learning

An ever-growing portion of the economy is dedicated to the field of education, intensifying the urgency of identifying strategies to secure the sector’s enduring prosperity and elevate educational standards universally. This study introduces a model for enhancing games and optimizing data analysis within the context of early childhood education (ECE) majors, hinging on deep learning (DL). This approach aims to enhance the quality of instruction provided to ECE majors and refine the effectiveness of their professional pursuits. This study commences by examining the incorporation of DL technologies within the domain of ECE and delving into their fundamental underpinnings. Subsequently, it expounds upon the design philosophy underpinning ECE games operating within the framework of DL. Finally, it outlines the game improvement and data analysis (GIADA) model tailored to ECE majors. This model is constructed upon DL technology and further refined through the integration of convolutional neural networks (CNN). Empirical findings corroborate that the DL-CNN GIADA model achieves data analysis accuracy ranging from 83 to 93% across four datasets, underscoring the pronounced optimization prowess bestowed by CNN within the DL-based GIADA model. This study stands as an invaluable reference for the application and evolution of artificial intelligence technology within the realm of education, thereby contributing substantively to the broader landscape of educational advancement.

Examining the Implementation of Artificial Intelligence in Early Childhood Education Settings in Ghana: Educators’ Attitudes and Perceptions towards Its Long-Term Viability

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has witnessed significant advancements in recent years, with potential applications in various sectors, including education. Early childhood education (ECE) is a critical stage that lays the foundation for a child’s future development and learning. This study aims to explore the attitudes and perceptions of educators in Ghana towards implementing AI in ECE settings, focusing on its long-term viability. The research employs a qualitative approach, utilising interviews and focus group discussions to gather data from educators in selected ECE settings across four (4) early childhood settings in Ghana. The study investigates eight (8) educators’ experiences, concerns, and expectations regarding integrating AI technologies into their teaching practices. It explores the factors influencing their attitudes towards AI, including familiarity with the technology, pedagogical beliefs, cultural context, and training opportunities. Preliminary findings indicate a diverse range of perspectives among educators towards AI implementation in ECE settings. Some educators perceive AI as promising for enhancing teaching and learning experiences, providing personalised instruction, and facilitating early childhood development. They recognise the potential benefits of AI in supporting cognitive, social, and emotional growth among young learners. Concerns are expressed regarding the implications of AI on human interaction, child privacy, and the role of educators in fostering holistic development. This study contributes to the emerging field of AI in education by examining the context of ECE in Ghana. The findings informed policymakers, educational institutions, and AI developers about the perceptions and concerns of educators, ultimately guiding the development and implementation of AI technologies in a manner that aligns with the needs and aspirations of the Ghanaian ECE community.

Animated movements, animating methods: An interaction geography approach to space and affect in early childhood education

This article uses a comparative case study to examine how a methodological approach called interaction geography provides alternative ways to animate space, movement, and affect within the context of early childhood education. We take animation to incorporate the methods for representing space, movement, and affect; the social-material environment which animates the people and things we study; and the lively, energetic talk-in-interaction that takes place as people and things move. Our first case uses interaction geography to animate what we call gestural energies and choreographies between a teacher, students, and materials in a bilingual kindergarten classroom activity. Our second case uses interaction geography to animate a young child’s excitement for learning and teaching through movement in a cultural heritage museum. Together, our analysis demonstrates how interaction geography provides alternative ways to conceptualize the multimodal nature of literacy practices and contributes to a recent turn to affect in literacy research. We discuss how this work has implications not only for literacy researchers, teachers, and teacher educators, but also for architects, administrators, and researchers concerned with the physical design of literacy spaces.

Bush Kinders: Building Young Children’s Relationships with the Environment

AbstractEarly childhood is an important time for building children’s affinity with nature and the environment. Early childhood professionals play a crucial role in developing young children’s understanding of the natural world. Over the past 50 years, there has been a movement in early childhood education and care contexts to provide young children with the opportunity to learn in natural surroundings such as forest schools and nature kindergartens. This research, occurred in four bush kinders, an Australian example of nature-based, early years education influenced by the forest school approach to education. In this paper we interrogate key ideas concerning environmental education, drawing on seminal empirical research, guiding curriculum documents such as Australia’s Early Years Learning Framework and government policy documents to build understandings of how children’s play can be observed by educators who can then support the children to develop their understandings of the natural world around them. Through ethnography, a methodology that uses both participation and observation of research participants, it became apparent that young children’s play-based learning offers opportunities for development of understandings of the environment. Applying a recent definition of environmental education from the US Environmental Protection Authority (2022), we analysed four vignettes which provide examples of educators and children’s interactions supporting children to build an affinity with nature observed during the research. This research’s implications are novel when considering the relatively new bush kinder approach to early childhood education as the findings remind us of the benefits of bush kinders in generating opportunities for young children’s environmental education.

Teachers’ expressed understandings concerning sustainability in the Norwegian ECE context

Education for Sustainability (EfS) seeks to empower children with knowledge, skills, values, and attitudes to address global challenges while adhering to sustainability principles. This study investigates the conceptual understanding and pedagogical practices of EfS among early childhood education (ECE) teachers in Norway. Using mixed-methods design, data were collected through reflection notes, surveys, and didactic development projects, revealing fragmented understanding primarily focused on action-oriented, fact-based, and normative aspects of sustainability. The teachers emphasised waste sorting, recycling, and nature experiences, with limited attention to holistic and pluralistic perspectives. Despite curriculum mandates, sustainability had low implementation in ECE educational plans and collaboration meetings. The findings highlight the need for comprehensive teacher education and support to promote EfS and foster agents for sustainability in the context of ECE.

Outdoor activities promoting mental and physical health and well-being in Sámi Early Childhood Education and Care institutions

This article explores the current situation of outdoor play for children in Sámi Early Childhood Education and Care institutions (ECECs) in Norway. The main objective is to discover how Sámi ECEC practices contribute to outdoor play and learning in early childhood education and community contexts by addressing the following research questions: How do Sámi ECEC staff emphasize outdoor activities and play in their daily practice, and how can these activities be regarded as a way of promoting mental and physical health and well-being? The sample comprises practitioners from seven Sámi ECEC institutions (ECECs) participating in focus-group and individual interviews. The main focus of the interviews was on Sámi ECECs as health-promoting arenas, and outdoor activities appeared to be important in this context. Stepwise-Deductive Induction was used as a qualitative research strategy in the analysis. The staff underline the importance of letting children attempt to be autonomous when it comes to physical and practical activities. They point to the importance of knowing the children and encouraging autonomous achievements. Traditionally, Sámi upbringing places emphasis on doing handicraft and daily work together with the children. The staff describe doing such daily outdoor activities as harvesting, handicraft, and food preparation together with the children as a way of maintaining Sámi culture. The main conclusion is that outdoor activities are important for promoting, experiencing, and contributing to Sámi pedagogy and children’s well-being in the Sámi ECECs.

Early childhood professionals’ pedagogical decision making

ABSTRACT The present study sought to determine how and where pedagogical decisions are made, as well as how such pedagogical decisions construct pedagogy, in the early childhood education context. The data was collected through interviews conducted with 46 early childhood education professionals, both teachers and practical nurses. The questions focused on the participants’ perceptions of the children’s learning and their own role in the process. Both data-based and theory-driven analyses were employed. The theory-driven analysis was based on the ecological dimensions introduced by Bronfenbrenner [Bronfenbrenner, Urie. 1976. “The Experimental Ecology of Education.” Educational Researcher 5 (9): 5–15. https://doi.org/10.3102/0013189X005009005] and Sheridan (Sheridan, Sonja. 2007. “Dimensions of Pedagogical Quality in Preschool.” International Journal of Early Years Education 15 (2): 197–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760701289151, 2009. “Discerning Pedagogical Quality in Preschool.” Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research 53 (3): 245–261. https://doi.org/10.1080/00313830902917295). We found that teachers and practical nurses generally make pedagogical decisions based on their knowledge of child development. Moreover, they use their knowledge of pedagogy and learning theories when making decisions as they make plans for the child or a group of children in advance.