Child Work Research Articles

Preservice Teachers’ Visions and Understandings of Classroom Documentation and Displays of Children’s Work in Elementary Schools

AbstractAt present, research exploring educator’s understandings of displays of student work is scant yet such displays are regularly exhibited within the community spaces of early learning and elementary schools. These displays communicate messages to those within the space about teacher and student agency, curricular priorities, children and their work, and the relationship between teaching and learning. Grounded in a framework of documentality and teacher vision, this paper explores the ways in which preservice teachers (PSTs) understand teacher-cultivated, student work documentation. This research used a Photo-Elicitation Interview methodology to develop a descriptive account of PSTs' visions and understandings of teacher-cultivated, classroom documentation and displays of children's work. Findings reveal that PSTs held paradoxical views of student work documentation teetering between an appreciation of an adult-centered aesthetic disconnected from their academic and creative capacities to an expressed valuing of an agentic positioning of children in the experiences of the classroom.

The brick kiln child workers of Pakistan.

Pakistani law recognises that no young person under the age of 18 years can enter into a valid and binding contract. In hazardous industries, such as brick kilns, none of the children working in them have any formal contract, so limiting any rights they may have. Any contract that does exist is with the child's father and will be linked to everlasting debts and constitutes a form of bondage. This paper reviews the adverse medical effects on children of such employment.

The effects of expanding worker rights to children

One out of two working children worldwide works in hazardous conditions. We study the effects of a law that introduced benefits and protections for child workers and temporarily lowered the de facto legal working age from 14 to 10 in Bolivia. We employ a difference-in-discontinuity approach that exploits the variation in the law’s application to different age groups. Work decreased for children under 14, whose work was newly legalized and regulated under the law, particularly in areas with a higher threat of inspections. The effects disappear after the law is reversed. We do not find evidence of improvements in work safety. Thus, the effects do not appear to be driven by increased hiring costs to ensure worker safety. Instead, the effects appear to be driven by a reduction in the most visible forms of child work, suggesting that firms and parents (households) may have reduced employment of young children to minimize the risk of being subject to legal and social sanctions.

‘Being a Social Worker … It's in My DNA’ Retaining Experienced Child and Family Social Workers: The Role of Professional Identity

ABSTRACTThe retention of experienced child and family social workers is a significant issue in the United Kingdom, the United States and Europe. Failure to retain experienced practitioners has serious implications for the protection and support of vulnerable children. Existing research and workforce interventions have focused on the support of early‐career social workers to prevent exit. Relatively few studies have examined what can be learned from experienced social workers who have remained in the profession long‐term. This study captures the voices of experienced stayers. Data consist of interviews with social workers (n = 58) across 11 local authorities in England who have remained in practice for ≥8 years. Findings suggest that a strong sense of professional identity (PI) sustains social workers and promotes retention. For experienced social workers, staying in the profession long‐term involves navigating a series of identity challenges over the course of their career, conceptualized here as Critical Career Episodes (CCEs). Based on these findings, we suggest that retaining experienced social workers involves support to navigate CCEs alongside meaningful opportunities for learning and development. We identify three key factors that support and sustain ongoing PI development and support retention: generativity, specialism and mobility. The article concludes with recommendations to support workforce retention.

Taking an argumentation approach to statistical investigations: developing student data-ing practices

AbstractResearch literature has provided considerable insight as to how young students might come to deeper understandings of statistical concepts, processes and representations through investigations. However, ‘data-ing’—the critical thinking aspects of decision-making while engaging in statistical investigations—has shown to be more difficult to grasp. Data-ing aspects of statistical investigations identified in literature as particularly challenging include: generating researchable questions, knowing when or how to apply statistical knowledge, seeing a need for evidence to support conclusions, and knowing how to use data as evidence. Argumentation practices necessitate a focus on the use of evidence to logically support a claim, thereby offering potential to focus students on the sufficiency and quality of evidence and the conclusions that can be drawn. As such, argumentation offers potential to support students to engage in data decision-making practices. In the research described here, an argumentation focus was used to guide a statistical investigation with a class of 9–10-year-old students in a suburban Australian school. Analysis of classroom interactions and children's work samples suggested that taking an argument-based focus supported students’ developing capacity to overcome the aforementioned challenges and to engage in critical, decision-making practices with authentic, messy data within the context of the investigation.

CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO PROTECTION FROM LABOUR AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION

Children's rights have a very important place in human rights law. One of the important steps towards protecting fundamental children's rights is establishing a 'special juvenile justice system.' Special laws for children in modern societies are important in protecting children's rights. In addition to special laws, international agreements in this context play a key role in protecting and developing children's rights. There are different forms of child exploitation, such as sexual exploitation, child labour, physical abuse, psychological abuse, forced marriage, sexual assault, organized begging, etc. Nowadays, we see a significant increase globally when we look at the data related to child abuse and child labour. When it comes to child sexual abuse, no universally accepted definition defines sexual abuse. In this context, it is also important to emphasize the difference between sexual abuse and sexual exploitation. When we consider child labour, child labour negatively affects children's mental, social, physical, and psychological development. Child workers work long hours, often in dangerous conditions, to contribute to the livelihood of their families. Working conditions, also prevent these children from going to school, spending time with their peers, playing games, and spending their free time. There are important international conventions such as the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child; the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (Lanzarote Convention); Optional Protocol of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale and sexual exploitation of children; The Budapest Convention; Convention 182 on The Worst Forms of Child Labour, 1999; Maritime Labour Convention, 2006; Worst Forms of Child Labour Recommendation, 1999 (No. 190) that we should particularly highlight in terms of the prevention of both child sexual exploitations.

Handling child labor in Banda Aceh City: An analysis in optimizing stakeholder participation

In Banda Aceh, it is common to see children who are not yet of working age selling in cafes and at traffic lights. Their working hours exceed 3 hours a day, and the work they do can threaten safety and interfere with children’s education, which is in conflict with law number 13 concerning employment. This study aims to determine stakeholder participation in handling child labor in Banda Aceh City. Employing qualitative research methods with a descriptive framework, researchers identified multiple actions undertaken by stakeholders in addressing child labor in Banda Aceh City. First, the Banda Aceh City Social Service has the authority to provide guidance to child workers. Second, DP3AP2KB Banda Aceh City has the authority to prevent and handle violence against children. Third, the UPTD PPA Banda Aceh City has the authority to respond quickly and is psychoeducational to child victims of violence. Fourth, Banda Aceh City Satpol PP and WH have the authority to supervise, control, and safeguard child workers to maximize public order and community security. Furthermore, the challenges in handling child labor in the City of Banda Aceh are: 1) the behavior of people who easily feel pity; 2) the behavior of child workers who are used to working on the streets; 3) the limited authority of the government; 4) weak applicable laws and no special regulations regarding child labor.

Stimulating Preschoolers' Creative Imagination through Hands-on Practice Activities

The research aims to develop the creative imagination of pre-school children, using different working techniques in practical activities. An experimental, formative methodology was developed. Twenty-nine preschool children of the "Nicolae Iorga" Secondary School, Bacău, in the 5-6 years age group, namely Group B "Sunbeam", participated in the research. To stimulate creative imagination, specific working techniques for practice, and hands-on activities were systematically used, and modern strategies based on diverse techniques and materials were introduced into the children's work. The research results revealed that hands-on practice activities allow for the selection of activity organization forms that foster learning through discovery. This type of learning, while requiring independent effort, motivates participation and stimulates the creativity of pre-schoolers. This is because they are engaged in developing their knowledge. A creative motivation for knowledge and self-discovery has been observed in preschoolers, which supports the acquisition and development of personality traits specific to creative people: self-confidence, independent thinking, and sensitivity to problems.

Analisis Penilaian Hasil Karya Berbahan Loose Part untuk Mengembangkan Higher Order Thinking Skills di TK Islam Bustanul Athfal Desa Sikanco Kec. Nusawungu Kab. Cilacap

Technological developments require the younger generation to be creative and competitive; Loose Parts give children the freedom to be creative and explore; and PAUD institutions in Nusawungu District, Cilacap have switched from paper worksheets to utilizing loose parts. The study aims to analyze (1) Inhibiting factors and solutions for utilizing loose parts to improve higher order thinking (2) assessment techniques for children's work using loose parts to improve higher order thinking skills in Islamic Kindergarten (Bustanul Athfal) Sikanco Village, Nusawungu District, Cilacap Regency. This study is a field research with a qualitative approach. The data collection techniques used are interviews, observation and documentation. The data validity techniques used by researchers are source triangulation and method triangulation. Data analysis techniques include data reduction, data presentation and drawing conclusions. The conclusion of this study is the inhibiting factors and solutions for utilizing loose parts to improve higher order thinking skills in Islamic Kindergarten (Bustanul Athfal) Sikanco Village, Nusawungu District, Cilacap Regency. Nusawungu, Cilacap Regency is 1) Limited loose parts materials, the solution is the school will optimize the use of lost parts (add to the collection of loose parts materials). 2) Characteristics of children's abilities that have different HOTS achievements, the handling will adjust to the child's development achievements. 3) Limited time, the school will increase the duration of loose part activities. 4) Limited teacher knowledge, the school will hold human resource strengthening. 2) The assessment technique for children's work made of loose parts to improve higher order thinking skills in Islamic Kindergarten (Bustanul Athfal) Sikanco Village, Nusawungu District, Cilacap Regency is the Checklist technique, Assessment of Work Results and anecdotal notes.

Practitioner Perspectives on Agency Social Work in Children and Families Social Work in England

Abstract This article examines practitioner perspectives on agency social work in Local Authority Children’s Services Departments in England. There have been ongoing concerns about the use of agency workers, relating to cost, quality and impact on services, despite a recognition that temporary staff may be needed for a range of reasons. However, recent labour shortages and the escalating costs of agency staffing are fuelling calls for some form of regulation of agency workers. The article reviews literature on agency workers from the UK and elsewhere. It presents demographic survey data about agency workers drawn from a five-year longitudinal study on the recruitment and retention of child and family social workers and reports qualitative data from forty semi-structured interviews with social workers in Year 4 (Johnson et al., 2022) of the project about their experience of agency social work and agency social workers. The findings indicate several reasons for choosing agency work, pay being the most significant but by no means the only one. The advantages and disadvantages of agency work for workers, employers and service users are considered, and suggestions are offered about further research to assist in understanding how employers can identify and address recruitment and retention factors to reduce dependence on agency staff.

Identifying and responding to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder in child and family health: Lessons from an exploratory mixed methods study.

Developmental outcomes for children and young people with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) are optimised if their needs are identified early. Yet, health workers miss vital opportunities to identify and respond to FASD due to a lack of support, knowledge and skills. Through surveys and interviews, our study investigated what child and family health workers in an Australian metropolitan local health district understand, already do and want to learn about FASD. The study provided evidence of low FASD knowledge and confidence and a lack of referral options with some workers 'patching together' care planning in a 'referral black hole'. Qualitative data provided insight into how skilled clinicians engage families in FASD assessment and negotiate gaps in clinical knowledge. Health workers in this study requested high-quality training and the development of FASD practice guidelines to improve role clarity and clinical impact when working with FASD populations.

Perlindungan Hukum terhadap Pekerja Usia Anak di Indonesia

The existence of child exploitation and child labor will add to labor problems in Indonesia. The term "child labor" refers to people who employ children. The term "child labor" can be associated with the use of children's labor with low compensation or considerations regarding their personality development, safety, health, and future prospects. Most child workers do not have time to play or go to school like other children. Underage people work as hard as adults, both in formal and informal jobs. To save child labor in the future, a holistic and comprehensive solution model is needed. One method that can be used is a client-centered case management approach (centered on the client or child worker).

'Are We Gonna Have to Pretend to Be a Straight Couple?': Examining the Specific Detriment that Cisgenderism Places on Non-Binary Adoption and Fostering Applicants in the United Kingdom.

This exploratory qualitative study aimed to find out more about how the children's social work system interacts with non-binary parents. It highlights the specific detriment that can be faced by non-binary people hoping to adopt or foster in the United Kingdom. Three key themes emerged: (1) Barriers for non-binary carers, (2) Prejudice in adoption and fostering matching processes and (3) Intersectional disadvantage. The study found that non-binary people experience specific detriment when endeavouring to start or grow their families, examining how cisgenderism operates to privilege some identities over others. Multiple barriers affect the way non-binary people try and navigate how their family lives in a society that is organised around binary gender identities. Cisgenderism can subtly and pervasively exert a devaluing of identities that sit outside of entrenched binary gender norms, influencing how people can understand and express their gender identities within society.

Stimulasi Kecerdasan Linguistik Anak Usia Dini melalui Pembelajaran Bahasa Arab

Linguistic intelligence is an essential verbal skill that children, including those in early childhood, should possess. This study explores the stimulation of linguistic intelligence in early childhood through Arabic language learning at RA Mamba’ul Hisan Surabaya. The research employs a qualitative phenomenology and descriptive study methodology, with subjects including children aged 5-6 years and their teachers. Data collection techniques include observation and documentation. Observations are conducted to see how children engage with Arabic language learning activities such as watching animated videos, using interactive learning applications, storytelling, and singing Arabic songs. Documentation includes collecting children's work and recording their learning sessions. Data analysis uses a phenomenological approach to understand the lived experiences of the children and teachers. The analysis process involves bracketing (setting aside the researcher's preconceptions), describing (providing a detailed description of the observed phenomena), analyzing (identifying significant statements and themes), and synthesizing (integrating themes to form a comprehensive understanding). The findings indicate that stimulating linguistic intelligence in early childhood through Arabic language learning—watching animated videos, using interactive learning applications, storytelling, and singing songs in Arabic—is effective for children aged 5-6 years. Children show high enthusiasm when watching Arabic animated videos, listening to and singing songs, and listening to stories in Arabic. They can remember new vocabulary and understand the meaning of words in the context of stories conveyed through animation and songs. Interactive learning applications provide a fun learning experience, with children actively participating in games featuring hijaiyyah letters and simple vocabulary, helping them recognize and remember these words easily. The effectiveness of these methods is high due to engaging visual, auditory, and kinesthetic stimuli.

Analysis of Fine Motor Development of Children Aged 4-5 Years in KB Cendekia Bapangan Through Pottery Formation Play Activities

Pottery is one of the traditional handicrafts made of clay that is shaped in such a way and then heated until it becomes hard. This clay pottery forming game can help children's imagination to make a desired object from clay play. This study aims to determine the fine motor development of children through pottery playing activities. The research method applied in writing this article is qualitative method. The results of this study confirm the importance of paying attention to children's fine motor development, especially by parents and teachers. Fine motor development, which involves coordinating small muscles in movements such as writing and buttoning a shirt, is essential for everyday tasks. One effective method to support fine motor development is through the medium of play, especially the manufacture of pottery from clay. This activity not only improves fine motor skills, but also develops the child's creativity and sensory experience. Clay manipulation requires precise hand movements, which strengthen eye-hand coordination and dexterity. In addition, working with clay encourages children to use their imagination, provides rich sensory stimulation, and allows emotional expression through art. To integrate pottery activities into early childhood education, teachers and parents can introduce structured pottery sessions, provide free playtime, incorporate thematic projects, encourage collaborative projects, and showcase children's work to celebrate their achievements. Thus, the use of clay in early childhood learning becomes a fun and effective way to support fine motor development and other aspects of development.

The Ideal Legal Protection of the Child Labor Rights in Indonesia: The Dimensions of Maqāṣid al-Sharī‘ah and the Welfare State

The legal protection of child labor rights in Indonesia, which is regulated in the Indonesian legislation, was not yet ideal. There are many working children (aged 13 to 15 years) in Indonesia whose rights to a prosperous life have not been fulfilled, both in the maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah dimension and in the welfare state dimension. Thus, this research was about the ideal legal protection for the rights of child workers in Indonesia, and the aim was to know and look for the concept of ideal legal protection for the rights of child workers of 13-15 years of age in Indonesia which was in accordance with maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah and the welfare state. This normative research discussed the constitution and laws related to child labor rights by examining the main legal materials, theories, concepts and legal bases related to this research. The results of this research explained that the legal protection of child labor rights in Indonesia was not yet ideal due to lack of clarity in the labor law itself. Meanwhile, the findings in this research; legal protection for the rights of child workers aged 13 to 15 years in Indonesia was not yet ideal because it was not yet in accordance with the dimensions of maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah and the welfare state, and because child labor in Indonesia was still considered unlawful, therefore many children in Indonesia became neglected and poor.

Effect of ethnic diversity on child labor: Empirical evidence from Ghana

AbstractOne of the persistent global problems today is child labor with the current estimates indicating that 160 million children were in child labor as at the beginning of 2020. To reduce child labor, it is important to unearth the factors that influence it for policy implementation. We contribute to the literature and policy by examining the impact of ethnic diversity on child labor, while considering the mediating effects of informal work and household poverty. Using ethnic fractionalization and polarization indexes, we find that a unit increase in ethnic diversity is associated with an increase in child labor. Gender‐wise, we find the effect to be bigger for male child workers. Based on location, we find that the effect is pronounced for working children living in rural areas. Also, our mediation analysis shows that informal work, and household poverty are the pathways through which ethnic diversity increases child labor.

Challenge Faced by Domestic Child Workers in Achieving School Education

Domestic child workers work in an inside house with or without direct payment. Legally it is prohibited although socially, and culturally promoted in city areas. This article analyzes the challenges faced by domestic workers in the home, and how they are motivated to study in difficult situations. This article was based on the phenomenological study of domestic child workers from child rights perspectives. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with participants. On the basis of the data, two themes were generated and analyzed. A lot of the information that came in the form of data was based on the problem they ran into. It concludes that domestic child workers face physical, mental, and social problems in their r workplace (Home). Their children's rights were violated by their parents, and employers although were motivated to study to fulfil their future aims.

The expansion of basic education during ‘deskilling’ technological change in England and Wales, c. 1780–1830

AbstractThe first country to industrialize – England – ostensibly did so without expanding investment in the basic education of its workforce. The empirical evidence underpinning this argument for England rests largely on signature rates at marriage. These are not a perfect indication of educational achievement, particularly as many children never learned to write. More problematically, I argue signatures are likely to have systematically underestimated human capital in industrial districts. In place of signature data, I propose age heaping, a measure widely understood as a proxy for numeracy but shown here to be closely related to both reading and writing abilities. In contrast to signatures, this measure suggests that ‘deskilling’ industrialization induced human capital accumulation. I argue that this occurred not because human capital was directly productive, but rather because schools provided a valuable signal. Sunday school attendance signalled low leisure‐preference among child workers and were popularly attended in industrial districts. Further, such schools taught children to read but not write, which they considered inappropriate for the Sabbath, accounting for the discrepancy between these two measures of human capital.

European International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research and Management Studies

This article highlights the importance of organizing and conducting action games played from the point of view of the age characteristics and psychology of children educated in preschool educational institutions. It is said that properly selected and organized games will be the main foundation for children's future work. Information is provided about the educational importance of games in a child's life.