Early Childhood Education Programs Research Articles

Early Childhood Special Education: A Hope for Lost Oysters

Education in the early years of life is crucial for the lifelong development of individuals and, ultimately, societies. Early childhood education programs initiated by govt. The private sector in Pakistan is striving to provide quality education. On the other hand, children with special needs are barred from participating in early childhood programs. This conceptual research paper explores the multifaceted terrains of early childhood special education (ECSE), intending to provide a comprehensive framework that integrates diverse perspectives and approaches. By intertwining evidence-based practices, this paper advocates inclusive early childhood special education. Through a transdisciplinary lens, it is explored that professionals of various disciplines can synergize their expertise to provide comprehensive support for children with Special Needs. This conceptual paper highlights the significance of ongoing professional development to ensure that educators are equipped with the knowledge and skills needed to adapt to the evolving landscape of ECSE. This conceptual framework envisions a future in which early childhood special education becomes synonymous with inclusive education.

Strategies for optimizing partnership: workshop on teamwork for teachers and parents in early childhood education

ABSTRACT One of the keys to early childhood education program success is providing opportunities for teachers and parents to create effective partnerships. However, teachers often face difficulties in involving parents in parenting activities. The authors employed the qualitative case study method to explore teachers’ and parents’ collaboration in the context of early childhood education. The authors conducted observations, interviews, and field notes in collecting the data. The data were analysed thematically using qualitative data analysis. The analysis focuses on the implementation of a three-stage partnership workshop involving teachers and parents. The findings of this study demonstrate that workshops focused on teamwork, which aim to enhance collaboration between teachers and parents, have been found to be successful in promoting the exchange of knowledge, skills, experiences, challenges, and solutions pertaining to the provision of educational services that are pertinent to child development. Consequently, these workshops have the potential to foster a harmonious partnership between teachers and parents.

Parent Training and Child Development at Low Cost? Evidence From a Randomized Field Experiment in Mexico

ABSTRACT Can at-scale, government-implemented parent training programs improve parenting practices and child development outcomes? This article presents evidence on the effects of a low-cost, group-based early childhood education program that provided parent training and direct child stimulation in rural communities, evaluated in six Mexican states. Despite limited take-up, the program had positive impacts on observed parent behaviors in its first year. An index of observed parenting behaviors increased by 0.20 standard deviations, with larger effects (0.32 standard deviations) for parents of the youngest children (ages 0–35 months). An index of impacts on child development showed no statistically significantly effects, but certain aspects of child development showed suggestive evidence of positive impacts in the first year. For both parenting practices and child development, effect sizes were smaller and not statistically significant in the second year. The fade-out of effects is consistent with existing literature on parenting programs. Impacts of the program on child development were not significantly different for girls versus boys or for younger versus older children. These results suggest that parent training can be implemented at low cost, although design changes to improve implementation and take-up would likely be needed to generate sustained impacts on parenting practices.

PELATIHAN PEMBUATAN BONEKA JARI SEBAGAI MEDIA AJAR BAGI GURU TK KECAMATAN SERIRIT

Formal education for children begins at an early age, 4 years old the early childhood education programs. Learning in Kindergarten is carried out using the principle of play because playing for children is a very enjoyable activity and is always carried out every day. Daily learning activities in Kindergarten to develop children's intelligence abilities are adapted to the learning principles and values developed in the prepared curriculum. The learning process in kindergarten schools uses facilities and infrastructure that support the achievement of educational goals. One of them is using learning media that is interesting to children. However, teachers have difficulty providing teaching media such as storytelling media as learning facilities, which is one of the obstacles faced by kindergarten teachers in Seririt District. This is caused by financial factors, lack of ideas, skills, and other equipment. Learning media does not have to be in the form of sophisticated digital technology, therefore researchers provide a training program for making finger puppets as a teaching medium to kindergarten teachers in the Seririt sub-district as service partners with the aim of helping teachers develop teaching media that can be used in the classroom. The implementation of this service lasted for three months. Methods for implementing this activity include drafting training guidelines, providing training on making finger puppets as a learning medium, and practicing direct teaching using the media that has been created. The results obtained during the implementation of this community service, namely through training in making finger puppets as a teaching medium, are able to increase the creativity of teachers in creating shapes and characters from the media they make and also develop an entrepreneurial spirit because the materials used can be found around us, thus making children become more enthusiastic in the learning process, and the class atmosphere becomes more enjoyable.

Identifying Challenges and Solutions to Early Childhood Education and the Perceived Importance of Outdoor Time: A Mixed Methods Approach in a Socioeconomically Diverse Population.

The current literature supports the positive relationship between time in nature and the improvement in children's health and identifies early childhood education (ECE) settings as an avenue for intervention. Unfortunately, access to both outdoor time and ECE opportunities is lower in communities facing economic adversity. Efforts are needed to identify the best approaches to incorporate outdoor time in ECE settings, especially in communities facing socioeconomic adversity. The objectives of this research were to use a mixed methods approach to identify (1) barriers and solutions to the integration of outdoor time in ECE settings, (2) if outdoor time is a priority in ECE settings compared to other ECE priorities, and (3) how socioeconomic status influences ECE priorities and barriers for outdoor time, and health outcomes. Fourteen focus groups were conducted (n = 50) in the United States (US) with participants from three stakeholder groups: outdoor educators, parents of children attending outdoor preschool, and community members with children. Participants completed a survey (n = 49) to evaluate demographics, views on ECE and outdoor time, and health characteristics. Exploratory analyses of F as an effect modifier were conducted. The survey results showed that parents prioritized social and emotional learning and outdoor time when selecting an ECE setting for their child. The barriers identified include financial challenges and the limited availability of ECE programs. The solutions discussed included increased availability and financial support. Low income was correlated with higher rates of anxiety and increased outdoor time was a potential protective factor. These insights inform interventions to enhance outdoor time in ECE settings, with the goal of reducing disparities and promoting children's overall health.

Evaluasi Terhadap Pelaksanaan Pendidikan Anak Usia Dini di KB Indah Mulya Indralaya

This research conducts an evaluation of the implementation of Early Childhood Education at KB Indah Mulya Indralaya. The study aims to assess the effectiveness and quality of the Early Childhood Education program, considering various factors such as curriculum delivery, teaching methodologies, infrastructure, and overall learning environment. Through a combination of qualitative and quantitative research methods, including surveys, interviews, and classroom observations, the evaluation seeks to identify strengths, weaknesses, and areas for improvement in the current implementation of Early Childhood Education at KB Indah Mulya Indralaya. The findings of this study contribute valuable insights to enhance the overall educational experience for young learners in the specified context.

Male Preservice Teachers’ Perspectives and Experiences regarding Early Childhood Education Program in China

An increasing amount of attention has been focused on the issue of the low recruitment and retention of male teachers in early childhood education worldwide. Previous research has indicated that personal perceptions of male preservice teachers’ personal regarding early childhood education could have a major influence on their decision of a future career. This qualitative study aims at promoting the significance of early childhood preservice preparation programs by exploring the perspectives and experiences of male preservice teachers working with infants in China. Using the purposeful sampling method, two male interns in an infant classroom were interviewed individually, and each of them was interviewed three times in total: at the beginning of their professional studies, during their internship, and after completing their studies. Participants’ reflections were also considered as supplementary data. The results underscore the necessity of a comprehensive early childhood preservice preparation program for prospective male teachers, particularly regarding infants’ development. Additionally, the study highlights the crucial role of male preservice teachers’ involvement and perspectives before entering the early childhood education field. The study was limited to one location and may not apply to others. Despite the small sample, it offers valuable perspectives. Future focus should be on attracting males to early childhood education area and exploring useful strategies.

Effect of a Center-Based Early Childhood Care and Education Program on Child Nutritional Status: A Secondary Analysis of a Stepped-Wedge Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial in Rural Sindh, Pakistan

BackgroundHigh-quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) programs can positively impact children’s development. However, as an unintended consequence, ECCE attendance may also affect children’s nutritional status. ObjectiveWe evaluated the effect of a center-based ECCE intervention on child nutritional outcomes in rural Pakistan. MethodsThis study utilized data from a stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial of a center-based ECCE program that trained female youth to run high-quality preschools for children aged 3.5–5.5 y (Youth Leaders for Early Childhood Assuring Children are Prepared for School (LEAPS) program) in rural Sindh, Pakistan. The program did not include any school meals. A total of 99 village clusters were randomized to receive the LEAPS intervention in 3 steps, and repeated cross-sectional surveys were conducted to assess the impact on children (age: 4.5–5.5 y) at 4- time points. ITT analyses with multilevel mixed-effect models were used to estimate the effect of the intervention on child anthropometric outcomes. ResultsThe analysis included 3858 children with anthropometric data from 4 cross-sectional survey rounds. The LEAPS intervention was found to have a positive effect on child height-for-age z score (mean difference: 0.13 z-scores; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.02, 0.24). However, there was a negative effect on weight-based anthropometric indicators, −0.29 weight-for-height z score (WHZ) (95% CI: −0.42, −0.15), −0.13 BMI z score (BMIZ) (95% CI: −0.23, −0.03), and −0.16 mid-upper arm circumference-for-age z score MUACZ (95% CI: −0.25, −0.05). An exploratory analysis suggested that the magnitude of the negative effect of LEAPS on WHZ, BMIZ, and weight-for-age z score (WAZ) was greater in the survey round during the COVID-19 lockdown. DiscussionThe LEAPS intervention positively affected child linear growth but had negative effects on multiple weight-based anthropometric measures. ECCE programs in low- and middle-income country settings should evaluate the integration of nutrition-specific interventions (eg school lunch, counseling on healthy diets) and infection control strategies to promote children's healthy growth and development. Clinical Trial Registryclinicaltrials.gov, NCT03764436, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03764436

An Investigation of Practical Skills Competencies of Early Childhood Care and Education Programmes

Childhood Development training does not guarantee quality provisioning in ECD centres for several reasons: a lack of proficient instruction during training; a lack of support to help assist the students with work; a lack of knowledge; and a lack of follow-up support after the training is complete to ensure constant implementation. That is why it is necessary to educate practitioners and to continuously supervise their progress to ensure that they implement the appropriate activities relevant to their daily programmes for children to reach their full potential. This study considers the perceptions of five ECCE practitioners based in Gauteng who completed a Higher Certificate in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme at a Private Higher Education Institution (PHEI) in South Africa. The study will focus on Health, Safety and Nutrition, which forms part of the ECCE programme. A qualitative research approach was utilized. Semi-structured interviews, observations, and document analysis through triangulation for this study were developed according to the criteria of the Experiential Learning Theory for the assessment of the themes from the study. A case study of narrative approach was used to explore reflections and authentic experiences the practitioners endure. This was executed to consider if the hands-on activities integrated into early learning programmes are sufficient for real-world applications. Furthermore, to ascertain the transition difficulty of newly graduated practitioners into ECD centres and to establish if the insights and skills training has equipped these practitioners for an ECD centre. The hands-on practical skills training competencies in early learning before entering an ECD centre as a practitioner will inform the development of future programmes as well as policy.

Assessment of Early Childhood Education Programme Implementation by Pre-schools during COVID-19 Lockdown in Nigeria.

Assessment of Early Childhood Education Programme Implementation by Pre-schools during COVID-19 Lockdown in Nigeria.

Theological Values in the Poda Nalima Philosophy and Their Contribution to Early Childhood Education in Batang Baruhar Jae

Poda Na Lima as local wisdom is an expression of giving advice and order to clean oneself. The research was conducted during the six months of February-July. This research was carried out in Batang Baruhar Jae Village in Gunung Tua, North Sumatra. This type of research is qualitative using a realist ethnographic approach. The research objects are traditional elders, parents and teachers who teach at Early Childhood Education Programs (PAUD). The PAUDs that are the research objects are AN Nur Batang Baruhar Jae PAUD, RA Darul Hakim and Al-Furqon, all of these are in Batang Baruhar Jae Village. Data collection techniques were carried out using observation, in-depth interviews and literature studies that directly examined Poda Na Lima. Then analyze the data used systematically starting from data collection, data presentation, to drawing conclusions. The research results provide an illustration that 1) Poda Na Lima is the basis for teachings, advice or life guidelines for the Angkola-Mandailing community, especially in Batang Baruhar Jae Village. 2) The Poda Na Lima philosophy really emphasizes theological values, from the Pillars of Faith, the Pillars of Islam, Development, Leadership and Service. 3) Its contribution to PAUD is; increasing children's spirituality and religion from an early age, improving children's academic skills, increasing children's self-confidence, instilling children's sense of caring from an early age, and increasing parental pride and society.

Inclusive active play curriculum in pre-service Canadian early childhood education programs

ABSTRACT While active play in childcare settings is important for children’s development and wellbeing, children with disabilities are frequently excluded from these experiences. This could be a consequence of the pre-service training provided to early childhood educators (ECEs). As such, this study investigated the quantity and content of inclusive active play offered within Canadian post-secondary early childhood education programs. An environmental scan and content analysis were conducted to assess course descriptions for 114 programs. Of the 2,610 courses examined, only 1% captured inclusive active play. Although content on disability inclusion and active play were captured uniquely, courses lacked intersections of these two topics. Future curriculum development is needed to support ECEs in the implementation of inclusive active play. Based on this research, four recommendations were provided. As Canada implements a new national childcare strategy, this study has implications for educators aiming to prioritize the inclusion of all children in high-quality care.

Inequality in access to early childhood care and education programs among 3- to 4-year-olds: Trends and variations across low- and middle-income countries

Despite growing acknowledgment of the role of early childhood care and education (ECCE) in reducing social inequality, there is limited understanding of the relation between ECCE expansion and inequality in access to ECCE in low- and middle-income countries. This study explored the relation between national enrollment rates in ECCE and inequality in access to ECCE in 30 low- and middle-income countries, using enrollment data among 3- and 4-year-olds (N=303,344) from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey and Demographic and Health Survey collected between 2001 and 2021. We found that higher ECCE enrollment rates were associated with lower inequality in access to ECCE, measured by concentration indices (r = -.31). Among 20 countries with significant increases in ECCE enrollment rate over time, six countries demonstrated a significant reduction in access inequality to ECCE. However, 13 countries did not show substantial changes. In addition, we demonstrated how four factors related to income-related inequality in access to ECCE, such as family wealth, maternal education, gender, and urbanicity, were associated with increases in ECCE use. A review of policies in selected countries provides a more nuanced understanding of the findings. Implications of our findings for ECCE expansion in low- and middle-income countries are discussed.

Impact assessment of academic support provided by tertiary learning advisors

In New Zealand higher education (HE), there is a lack of consistent ways of collecting evidence of the impact made by academic literacy support from Tertiary Learning Advisors (TLAs) on students’ academic performance, retention, and success. TLAs in New Zealand and Australia are primarily involved in providing learning support to students in post-secondary education to encourage development of their academic literacy and essential study skills. They are professional educators who advise students on issues related to academic writing and other academic skills, such as time management or exam preparation, to facilitate achievement of students’ goals of tertiary study (Griffith University, 2021). While it may be recognised that provision of learning support is desirable for a meaningful and successful HE experience for many students, hard evidence that learning support makes a difference to student retention and academic performance is difficult to find (Acheson, 2006, as cited in Breen and Prothero, 2015). This presentation sought to share an attempt to address this issue by investigating the impact of embedded academic literacy support provided by TLAs to three cohorts of students enrolled in undergraduate social work and early childhood education programs at my ITP (Institute of Technology and Polytechnic) in Auckland, New Zealand. Existing research in Australia, Canada, and the United Kingdom suggests that support that embeds academic literacy development in disciplines, rather than academic support that is generic and/or provided through foundation courses, represents a best practice model (Glew et al., 2019).

Guidelines for virtual early childhood and family learning: An equity, diversity, inclusion, and decolonization-informed systematic review of the literature

This article presents an equity-informed systematic review of research pertinent to the offering of virtual early childhood education programming to young children and their families. Findings are presented as guidelines which may shape the delivery of future programming within virtual contexts. These findings are organized within three major areas that were identified through the methodology: Building Connections and Fostering Online Relationships; Interactive Virtual Programming, Digital Tools, and Responsiveness; and Digital Technologies, Considerations for Access, Use, Professional Learning, and Safety. Findings highlight that developing inclusive, meaningful, and collaborative programs within virtual spaces is necessary for maximizing the learning opportunities and engagement of all children and families. Developing such services requires the careful negotiation and consideration of a range of worldviews, knowledges, priorities, and interests within unique families and contexts. Practice implications are drawn from the research, opportunities for pedagogical change are identified, and future research needs are provided.

Development of Research Competency for Pre-service Teacher in Early Childhood Education Program using Peer Coaching Process

Purpose: This semi-experimental research aimed at achieving two objectives: 1) to develop the research competency of pre-service teachers in early childhood education through the use of a peer coaching process, and 2) to compare the research competency of pre-service teachers in early childhood education before and after implementing the peer coaching process. Methodology: The research sample consists of 30 second-year pre-service teachers in the early childhood education program who are enrolled in research classes in the 2021 academic year, selected through cluster random sampling. The research tools used include activities planned with a peer coaching process and a pre-service teacher research competency assessment form. The statistical analysis employed the mean and standard deviation. Findings: The findings revealed that: 1) pre-service teachers demonstrated good research competency when using the peer coaching process (mean = 3.97, SD = 0.52), and 2) the research competency of pre-service teachers in early childhood education after the implementation of the peer coaching process was at a higher level (good level) compared to their competency level before the trial of the peer coaching process (fair level). The statistical significance was set at .05. Conclusion: Upon closer examination, it was found that the participants exhibited good performance in all aspects, except for writing research reports and presenting research findings. Furthermore, the research competencies of the post-experimental early childhood education students were significantly higher than before the reciprocal coaching process. Practical Implications: This study can be implemented in the classes to improve the competency of student's research ability by applying these coaching methods.

Creating Moral and Ethical Tales of Pre-service Teachers of Early Childhood Education Programme By using Backward Design

Fairy tales play a vital role in fostering early childhood development. Learning to create fairy tales, especially fairy tales that can promote morality and ethics for early childhood children, will result in appropriate and sustainable social development for children. As well as resulting in pre-service teachers learning meaningfully and valuablely. Able to innovate on their own individual potential with a backward design learning model that encourages pre-service teachers and educators to know and understand common goals. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of using a backward design learning approach to teach moral-ethical storytelling to pre-service teachers in early childhood education. Specifically, it seeks to compare the story-building skills of such pre-service teachers before and after the application of the aforementioned approach. The study sample comprises 36 second-year early childhood education students from the 2021 academic year. The literature and tales used in the study were selected via cluster random sampling. The research instruments employed included backward design learning plans and a morality-ethical storytelling test, with data analyzed through average and standard deviation statistics. The findings indicate that the backward design learning approach can develop the creation of moral and ethical tales for pre-service teacher s and the students had higher ethical storytelling skills after the backward design learning management than before the experiment in all aspects. Develop learning skills that can be applied in real life And see the results that can be used in the future, along with cultivating early childhood children to grow up to be good citizens of society with quality.

Implementation of Local Wisdom Through the Application of Kebaya Traditional Clothing in Early Childhood Education

This study aims to investigate how the application of traditional kebaya clothes in early childhood education can integrate local wisdom. Participatory observation and interview methods were used to collect data from teachers and parents. The results of the study show that the application of traditional kebaya clothes helps children understand and appreciate their own culture and broaden their understanding of cultural diversity. This implementation provides benefits in the development of children's cultural identity and increases their self-confidence, creativity and appreciation of cultural diversity. It is important for educational institutions and parents to support such educational programs in early childhood education.

Health Education Intervention Programs in Early Childhood Education: A Systematic Review

Adult health behavior is established and formed in childhood, in which, besides the primacy of the family, institutional education plays a significant role. The aim of our systematic review is to analyze health interventions implemented in an institutional environment for children aged 3–6 years. Our research was carried out according to the PRISMA 2020 protocol. The sample of research was determined by using the keywords “health education” or “health promotion” and “preschool” or “kindergarten” in Scopus, ERIC and WOS databases published between 2013 and 2022. Out of a total of 1535 results, 14 proved to be relevant to the eligibility criteria of the study topic. Cochrane Risk of Bias criteria were used for critical appraisal and to limit bias. The majority of the analyzed studies focused on physical activity and nutrition, including the issues of sedentary time, obesity and sustainability. The holistic approach is less typical in the interventions reviewed, with a marginal occurrence of topics related to mental and social health, as well as risk behavior. The interventions proved to be more effective when parents were involved, and the varied, age-appropriate game-based activities also contributed to the formation of health-supporting habits.

“Homegrown” Latinx educator pathways: the challenges and possibilities for early childhood teacher education

ABSTRACTThis study highlights a critical case that can serve as a programmatic and conceptual model for institutional partnerships seeking to diversify the early childhood education (ECE) teaching profession with “homegrown” Latinx teachers. The case study explored the experiences of Latinx students in an ECE program at a regional, public 4-year university who participated in a Grow Your Own (GYO) program at their high schools and/or local community college. The student-centered qualitative case study addressed: What obstacles have GYO Latinx teacher candidates experienced as they transferred to a 4-year university teacher education program? What can we learn about how they made sense of and responded to these challenges for improving the way in which early childhood teacher education programs might extend and transform GYO initiatives at the university level to support the retention and continued success of Latinx teacher candidates? Using a combination of interviews and focus groups, and Latinx Critical Theory, this study demonstrated that once at the university, GYO Latinx students struggled with increased financial strain, entrance requirements into teacher education, and commuting. Stressed across the interviews was the importance of building a critical learning community, in which relationships could be nurtured in culturally sustaining and place-based ways.