Development Of Young Children Research Articles

Technology and geometry: Fostering young children's geometrical concepts through a research-based robotic coding program

AbstractGeometric concepts are fundamental to early geometry education, and developmentally appropriate practices are crucial for teaching them to young children. Robotic coding is an effective tool in many areas of early mathematics and has significant potential in teaching geometric concepts. This study aimed to test the impact of a research-based robotic coding program on young children's understanding of geometric concepts. A quasi-experimental design was used with two intervention groups. The study involved 52 5-year-old children from a public kindergarten. The intervention-1 group (n = 18) received a research-based robotic coding program, while the intervention-2 group (n = 16) received a research-based no-coding program. The non-intervention group (n = 18) attended their regular program. Data on participants' understanding of geometrical concepts was collected through individual interviews using a geometric shapes classification test. Hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) was utilized to assess the effectiveness of two interventions. The results showed that both interventions had a significant effect with the robotic program being more effective. Additionally, follow-up tests indicated that both interventions had a lasting effect on the children's understanding of geometrical concepts. The study highlighted the potential of incorporating robotic coding and relevant research in fostering young children's geometrical development.

Social robots in research on social and cognitive development in infants and toddlers: A scoping review.

There is currently no systematic review of the growing body of literature on using social robots in early developmental research. Designing appropriate methods for early childhood research is crucial for broadening our understanding of young children's social and cognitive development. This scoping review systematically examines the existing literature on using social robots to study social and cognitive development in infants and toddlers aged between 2 and 35 months. Moreover, it aims to identify the research focus, findings, and reported gaps and challenges when using robots in research. We included empirical studies published between 1990 and May 29, 2023. We searched for literature in PsychINFO, ERIC, Web of Science, and PsyArXiv. Twenty-nine studies met the inclusion criteria and were mapped using the scoping review method. Our findings reveal that most studies were quantitative, with experimental designs conducted in a laboratory setting where children were exposed to physically present or virtual robots in a one-to-one situation. We found that robots were used to investigate four main concepts: animacy concept, action understanding, imitation, and early conversational skills. Many studies focused on whether young children regard robots as agents or social partners. The studies demonstrated that young children could learn from and understand social robots in some situations but not always. For instance, children's understanding of social robots was often facilitated by robots that behaved interactively and contingently. This scoping review highlights the need to design social robots that can engage in interactive and contingent social behaviors for early developmental research.

PENGARUH SENAM OTAK TERHADAP MOTORIK HALUS PADA ANAK USIA DINI DI TK MUSLIMAT NU 27 MALANG

A person in their early years is going through a crucial developmental stage that will affect them in the future. The aim of this study was to ascertain how early infancy fine motor abilities are affected by brain snam.Pre-experiment with a single group pre-posttest design was used in this study. 22 young children made up the study's population. Using the purposive sampling approach, a sample of eighteen respondents was collected. An observation sheet in the KPSP format was the instrument utilized in this investigation. SPSS16 was used to process the study data that were collected. The study's interpretation of the impact of brain gymnastics on enhancing children's fine motor development is supported by the Wilcoxon Test data, which indicate that the p value ? ? (0.05) is 0.000 <0.05, indicating that H1 is accepted and H0 is rejected. This study's findings indicate that brain gymnastics at TK Muslimat NU 27 Malang, both before and after the intervention, has an impact on young children's fine motor development.

The Effect of Self-Efficacy on Digital Reading Platforms on Early Childhood English Language Development

Early childhood education is crucial in laying a solid foundation for children's language and literacy development. In an era where digital technology is increasingly pervasive in daily life, it is important to understand how digital reading platforms can influence young children's language development. This study aims to explore the relationship between children's self-efficacy in using digital reading platforms and their English language development. Qualitative research methods were employed, collecting data through participatory observation and interviews with parents and early childhood educators. The research sample consisted of 30 children (aged 4-6 years) who regularly use digital reading platforms in formal and informal learning environments. The results indicate a positive correlation between children's self-efficacy levels in digital reading platforms and their progress in understanding and using English. The practical implications of this research emphasize the importance of strengthening children's self-efficacy and selecting appropriate digital reading platforms to support young children's language and literacy development. This study provides valuable insights for educators, parents, and educational technology developers in designing effective learning strategies for young children in the digital age.

Teacher perceptions of parent collaboration in multi-ethnic ECEC settings

IntroductionFor teachers working in multi-ethnic early childhood education and care settings, a strong collaboration with parents may be an important mechanism for supporting young children's language development. However, little research has investigated how teachers perceive their communication with parents from diverse backgrounds and what centre-level factors predict the quality of teacher-parent collaboration.MethodsThis study sought to explore teacher-parent collaboration within early childhood education and care in urban multi-ethnic areas of Norway, using survey data from 266 teachers across 56 centres and 198 classrooms. We examined whether teacher characteristics (education, experience and self-efficacy) and centre linguistic diversity were related to teacher perceived communication with parents regarding ways of supporting children's dual language development and teacher experienced challenges in parent collaboration.ResultsResults revealed that teachers with higher self-efficacy communicated more with parents and experienced less challenges in collaboration with them. Furthermore, more experienced teachers working in more linguistically diverse centres identified more challenges in parent collaboration, while these characteristics were not related to communication. Teacher education was not associated with communication nor challenges in parent collaboration.DiscussionOur results indicate that professional development measures targeted at strengthening teacher self-efficacy might be an important mechanism to promote parent collaboration, particularly in multi-ethnic education settings.

The impact of the pandemic on mothers and children, with a focus on syndemic effects on black families: the "Prenatal to Preschool" study protocol.

Racism, a known social determinant of health, affects the mental health and well-being of pregnant and postpartum women and their children. Convincing evidence highlights the urgent need to better identify the mechanisms and the ways in which young children's development and mental health are adversely impacted by their mothers' experiences of racism. With the additional stressor of the COVID-19 pandemic, the criticality of improving knowledge of these domains has never been starker. The proposed project will address these questions and move the field forward to create targeted, culturally informed preventative interventions, thus achieving mental health equity for all children and families. This prospective research is a cohort study that will longitudinally observe the outcomes of a cohort of mothers and their children recruited during the initial phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. Data will be parent/caregiver questionnaires assessing mental health, racism, support, and resilience at multiple time points with the first beginning at 24 months, clinical interviews with mothers, electronic medical records of mothers, and videotaped dyadic interactions at child age 24 and 48 months. A subset of Black participants will be asked to participate in qualitative interviews at child age 36 months. Analyze will be performed within and across Black and Non-Latino/a/e/x white (NLW) groups, and comparing mothers and fathers/secondary caregivers. Descriptive and multivariate analyzes will be run to better characterize how young children's development and mental health may be adversely impacted by their caregiver's experiences of racism. This prospective longitudinal mixed-methods study evaluates the simultaneous effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and racism on mothers and their developing children to characterize cross-racial differences, providing insight into risk and resilience factors in early development and the peripartum period.

The relationship between family socioeconomic status and the young children's number sense development: The mediating role of parent-child activities.

This study examines the relationship between family socioeconomic status, parent-child activities, and young children's digital development. Using the Family SES questionnaire, the parent-child activities questionnaire, and the 5 to 6 year old children's number sense development scale as research instruments, 314 young children (M = 70.42, SD = 3.47). The results show that: (1) Family Socioeconomic Status can significantly positively predict the young children's number sense development; (2) Parent-child activities play a partial mediating role in the relationship between family socioeconomic status and the young children's number sense development. This study provides specific guidelines and recommendations for improving the young children's number sense development.

Longitudinal associations between parents' prosocial behavior and media use and young children's prosocial development: The mediating role of children's media use.

Research has found that media is associated with children's prosocial behavior (PB) from an early age, and that parents play a key role in children's media use and behavior. However, few studies explore these relations as early as infancy while also controlling for well-established predictors of PB (e.g., empathic concern). Thus, the present study examined longitudinal associations between parents' PB and media use, and prosocial development during early childhood, mediated by children's own media use. Participants were 519 children (M age at Time 1=17.77months) and parents who participated in three timepoints of an ongoing, longitudinal study. A longitudinal path model suggested that children's media use was still significantly associated with PB 1year later after accounting for factors such as parents' PB, media use, and empathy. These findings have important implications for the early development of behaviors that serve as a foundation for social and moral development.

Socioemotional Development of Infants and Toddlers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Understanding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children's socioemotional development is critical to plan for ongoing needs in the early intervention and education systems. To determine if Ages and Stages Questionnaire, Third Edition (ASQ-3) and Ages and Stages Questionnaire Social-Emotional, Second Edition (ASQ:SE-2) scores changed during the COVID-19 pandemic among families served by a nurse-visiting program. This retrospective, cohort study took place from 2015 through 2021 and included 4 cohorts (prepandemic, pandemic 1, pandemic 2, and pandemic 3) with differing pandemic exposure at the time of screening. Analysis was conducted from July 2022 through October 2023. Data from the Nurse-Family Partnership (NFP), a national nurse-visiting program enrolling birthing people during pregnancy and continuing through age 2 years, were used. A total of 60 171 families with a singleton birth at 37 weeks' gestation or longer and at least 1 valid ASQ-3 and/or ASQ:SE-2 screening in the NFP from January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2021, were enrolled. COVID-19 pandemic. Outcomes were a positive screening, defined as scores in the refer area on the ASQ-3 at 10 months and 18 months of age and in the ASQ:SE-2 at 12 months and 18 months of age. Multivariable mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) for positive screening in pandemic cohorts compared with the prepandemic cohort. Covariates included parent age, race and ethnicity, marital status, income, child's biological sex, and multiparity. Of 60 171 families enrolled, pandemic cohorts had fewer teenagers, were more likely to be married, and were multiparous. Compared with the prepandemic cohort, all pandemic cohorts had higher odds of positive screening on the ASQ-SE at 12 months (pandemic 1: OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.09-1.66; pandemic 2: OR, 1.60; 95% CI, 1.30-1.96; and pandemic 3: OR, 1.94; 95% CI, 1.61-2.33) and pandemic 2 and 3 had higher odds of a positive screening at 18 months (pandemic 2: OR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.29-2.00 and pandemic 3: OR, 1.87; 95% CI, 1.50-2.32). On the ASQ-3, pandemic cohorts 2 and 3 were more likely than the prepandemic cohort to screen positive on the communication subscale at 18 months (pandemic 2: OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.17-1.64 and pandemic 3: OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.07-1.53). In this study, exposure to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially during the first year of life, was associated with higher odds of positive ASQ:SE-2 screening, even when adjusting for demographics and family risks. These findings suggest that unmeasured community, family, and child factors that changed as a result of the pandemic contributed to delays in young children's socio-emotional development.

Mitigating Strawberry Generation Risks Through Multiple Learning Strategies in Kindergarten

The efforts made by early childhood education teachers to address the risks associated with "Strawberry Generation" qualities are the subject of this study. The study aims to investigate the methods teachers use to counteract the detrimental impacts of these traits and encourage young children's development of good character. Data were gathered through interviews and observations using the qualitative research method. A sample of early childhood education teachers actively tackling the Strawberry Generation phenomena participated in the study. The study's conclusions point to several efficient tactics educators employ to counter the risks posed by Strawberry Generation features. These tactics include encouraging active student participation, using active learning techniques, acting as positive role models, storytelling and narratives, working with parents, and using active learning methodologies. With the help of these techniques, educators can help kids comprehend the drawbacks of Strawberry Generation features and encourage the development of good character traits as alternatives. The study emphasizes how crucial parent-teacher cooperation is in overcoming the difficulties brought on by Strawberry Generation features. The results highlight the importance of regular efforts, communication, and support from parents and teachers in assisting children in developing desirable character traits. This study adds to the corpus of knowledge by shedding light on early childhood educators' role in mitigating the risks associated with Strawberry Generation features. The findings have practical ramifications for educators, parents, and governments interested in early childhood education. Early childhood education teachers can be crucial in fostering children's excellent character characteristics and mitigating the harmful effects of the Strawberry Generation phenomena by using appropriate tactics.

The Relationship Between Shared Picturebook Reading and Language Development in Young Children

The Relationship Between Shared Picturebook Reading and Language Development in Young Children

Sociocultural and Geographic Factors Influencing the Health and Development of Young Children in Washington, District of Columbia.

The first 5 years of life are critical to children's health and development. Sociocultural and environmental factors play a prominent role as do variations in the quality of resources available. The objective of this study, grounded in Asset Based Community Development and the Model of Children's Health and its Influences, was to identify and understand these factors through the lens of parents living in predominantly African-American low-income communities within Washington, DC. An exploratory qualitative study employed semi-structured virtual interviews to discuss parents' priorities and challenges in raising their children. Participants relayed perceptions of community assets as well as struggles with access to care, proper nutrition, and police activity within their communities. Results were presented to apprise community partners and encourage modifications in program delivery to enhance community resources. Lived experiences voiced by underrepresented parents can potentially inform design of community-centered programing. Policymakers must take into account community strengths and weaknesses during the development of community services. Due to inequities in childhood health outcomes, it is imperative that policymakers receive information from parents to make informed decisions.

Efektivitas Media Dart Board Modifikasi terhadap Kemampuan Kognitif dalam Mengenal Buah-buahan bagi Anak Usia Dini

The lack of growth in children's cognitive capacities to identify objects around them, such as the fact that children still struggle to recognize fruit, particularly its color, shape, and size, is what inspired this research. The research purpose is to evaluate the impact of dart board media on young children's cognitive development with regard to fruit comprehension. This study employs quasi-experimental techniques along with a quantitative approach. This study included every student at the Pembina Pasaman State Kindergarten, which had 115 students spread across six classes. Using a purposive sample technique, the sample of 17 kids from classes B6 and B1 was selected. Tests were used to collect the data, and tests for homogeneity, hypothesis testing, normality, and effect size were used to analyze the data. Therefore, the pre-test.

The role of embodied scaffolding in revealing “enactive potentialities” in intergenerational science exploration

AbstractAlthough adults are known to play an important role in young children's development, little work has focused on the enactive features of scaffolding in informal learning settings, and the embodied dynamics of intergenerational interaction. To address this gap, this paper undertakes a microinteractional analysis to examine intergenerational collaborative interaction in a science museum setting. The paper presents a fine‐grained moment‐by‐moment analysis of video‐recorded interaction of children and their adult carers around science‐themed objects. Taking an enactive cognition perspective, the analysis enables access to subtle shifts in interactants’ perception, action, gesture, and movement to examine how young children engage with exhibits, and the role adult action plays in supporting young children's engagement with exhibits and developing ideas about science. Our findings demonstrate that intergenerational “embodied scaffolding” is instrumental in making “enactive potentialities” in the environment more accessible for children, thus deepening and enriching children's engagement with science. Adult action is central to revealing scientific dimensions of objects’ interaction and relationships in ways that expose novel types of perception and action opportunities in shaping science experiences and meaning making. This has implications for science education practices since it foregrounds not only “doing” science, through active hands‐on activities, but also speaks to the interconnectedness between senses and the role of the body in thinking. Drawing on the findings, this paper also offers design implications for informal science learning environments.

Young Children's Development and Behavior: Associations with Timing of Household Food Insecurity in a Racially and Ethnically Diverse Early Head Start Sample.

The objective of this study was to assess the impact of household food insecurity (HFI) over time on behavioral and developmental health in early childhood while considering the impact of timing/persistence of HFI and potential differences among racially or ethnically minoritized children. Families from the Early Head Start Family and Child Experiences Study (N = 760) were followed longitudinally until age 3 years. Caregiver interview data were collected on HFI, problem behaviors (PBs), delays in development (DD), and sociodemographic information. Analysis of Covariances examined differences between persistent vs transient HFI. Multiple regressions examined the impact of HFI on PB and DD and whether this relation was stronger in racially or ethnically minoritized children. The timing of HFI differentially affected PB, such that those with persistent HFI demonstrated greater PB than those with only early or only late HFI. A different pattern was identified for DD, in which those with late HFI had more DD than those with persistent HFI. Over and above other sociodemographics, including maternal risk factors and an income-to-needs ratio, HFI was associated with greater PB for children of all races and ethnicities. HFI was associated with more DD in non-Latino/a/e/x White families compared with non-Latino/a/e/x Black and Latino/a/e/x families. Meaningful differences were found in how the persistence/timing of HFI is differentially associated with PB and DD. In addition, while controlling for socioeconomic risk, a cumulative risk effect was not observed in how HFI affected racially or ethnically minoritized children.

A cultural-historical perspective of young children gaining autonomy in the playground

ABSTRACT This paper draws on a three-year ethnographic study during which we investigated young children's cultural development in a Brazilian early childhood centre. A cultural-historical approach was used to understand the concept of autonomy. We focus on Danilo, a very young child who overcame his fear of using a play slide (a cultural artefact). We believe that this process led to his achievement. Our findings suggest that young children's conquests consist of intentional actions that become part of their individual and social identities.

Music-based Language Programme for Preschool Teachers' Training and Lesson delivery: A Pilot Trial

Language delay in preschoolers is linked to learning difficulties and persistent communication issues. Studies show that early music-making positively impacts young children's language development. Music-based Language Programme aims to enhance preschoolers’ language skills by training preschool teachers to deliver quality music lessons with language-focused objectives. This pilot trial aimed to determine the feasibility of teacher training for the programme's delivery. Furthermore, the secondary aim was to evaluate the acceptability of the programme's implementation by stakeholders. Methods: The 6-week one-arm pilot trial took place in Sarawak, Malaysia (October to November 2021). It included preschool visits, parent briefings, teacher training, and music lesson delivery. The participants included teachers (n = 4), preschoolers (n = 11), parents (n = 11), and the principal (n = 1) in a preschool that practiced inclusion. A non-probability-purposive sampling recruitment strategy was employed amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The study used a case study mixed methods approach to collect data through reports, observations, group discussions, feedback, questionnaires, and documentation. Results: There was a high rate of participant retention (100%) and completion of data collection tasks (91–100%). Additionally, there was a favourable shift (7–27%) in three teachers' self-efficacy ratings before and after the teacher training and a reasonably high implementation fidelity (87%). There were no adverse events related to the study participants. Conclusion: The study demonstrated promising results across multiple participant levels, as it was perceived to be feasible, acceptable, and appropriate by teachers, preschoolers, the principal, and parents. The findings provided direct implications for the progression of the pilot trial to the full-scale main study.

Compensation and Staffing Challenges in Child Care: Statewide Evidence from Pandemic Relief Applications

Abstract Child care teachers support young children's learning and development and parents’ ability to work. However, they earn far less and turn over at far higher rates than K–12 teachers. COVID-19 exacerbated staffing challenges, and the child care workforce was 5.3 percent smaller in January 2023 than in January 2020. While low compensation likely drives turnover in early childhood education, there is relatively little large-scale evidence on the link between compensation and staffing challenges. We summarize the limited pre-pandemic evidence and use pandemic-era data from 90 percent of publicly funded child care centers in Louisiana to describe the relationship between sites’ compensation and staffing challenges. In October 2022, 15 percent of centers’ lead teacher positions were unfilled—nearly quadruple the 4 percent national vacancy rate for public school teachers. Of centers with any vacancies or hires in the past six months, 65 percent turned families away and 84 percent hired less-experienced or -qualified teachers than desired due to staffing challenges. Centers with higher wages were significantly less likely to report staffing challenges, turn families away, and hire less-experienced teachers, after controlling for center characteristics and region. Our findings and prior evidence suggest that wage increases are promising for stabilizing the child care workforce.

Traditional Music in Preschool and the Development of Social-emotional Competencies of Preschool Children

Despite the passage of time, traditional music continues to hold importance as a source of creativity for new generations. It is an important component of the spiritual history of the human race. This research aims to ascertain the opinions of preschool teachers regarding the influence of traditional music on young children's social and emotional development. The sample consisted of 164 preschool teachers employed in preschool institutions in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Croatia. The Student's Social and Emotional Competences Scale (SSEK) (Jeremić et al. 2015) was used as an instrument, adapted for this research. The findings showed that preschool teachers concur that teaching preschoolers traditional music affects their ability to develop their social and emotional skills. Preschool teachers implement traditional music in their educational work, and those who do so more often assess the influence of traditional music on the social and emotional development of children as more prominent. This research implies a need for future research on the frequency and modalities of implementing traditional music in preschools to benefit the development of children.

A Study of Early Childhood Teachers' Professional Development and Teaching Effectiveness Enhancement from the Perspective of Educational Psychology

Early childhood teachers are the backbone of preschool education, and they play a crucial role in young children's learning and development. However, faced with increasingly complex educational environments and the diverse learning needs of young children, early childhood teachers need to continuously update and develop their professional knowledge and skills to provide the best quality education. In this process, educational psychology provides guidance and support for early childhood teachers through the study of learning, development, and knowledge of psychological processes and environmental factors. Based on the perspective of educational psychology, the article synthesizes the research on professional development and teaching efficacy enhancement of early childhood teachers, to provide some useful references and insights for practitioners in related fields.