Pub Date : 2024-02-03DOI: 10.1177/1476718x241227044
Eunice Tan, Kaveri G
Prosocial behaviours such as sharing are essential for young children’s collaborative learning experiences and social development. When learnt during the early years, these behaviours enable positive peer interactions and relationship building in social settings, laying the foundation for young children’s social and emotional competencies with implications for individual and societal wellbeing. It is, therefore, critical that the early years are optimised to facilitate the development of young children’s prosocial behaviours. Set against this context, we present the findings of our qualitative teacher inquiry project that examined the role of social stories intervention in developing children’s prosocial behaviours, particularly sharing. The study was conducted at a private kindergarten in Singapore with four preschool children between the ages of four and five with difficulties in sharing resources with peers in classroom settings. The findings show children’s gradual progress from self-centred behaviours to independent problem-solving and other-oriented sharing behaviours, demonstrating the importance of consistency, teacher facilitation and authenticity as the three key elements of a successful social stories intervention. Thus, this small-scale qualitative study adds value to the limited literature on social stories intervention to promote sharing behaviours in preschool children.
{"title":"Building prosocial behaviours: Examining the possibilities of social stories in early childhood classroom settings","authors":"Eunice Tan, Kaveri G","doi":"10.1177/1476718x241227044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x241227044","url":null,"abstract":"Prosocial behaviours such as sharing are essential for young children’s collaborative learning experiences and social development. When learnt during the early years, these behaviours enable positive peer interactions and relationship building in social settings, laying the foundation for young children’s social and emotional competencies with implications for individual and societal wellbeing. It is, therefore, critical that the early years are optimised to facilitate the development of young children’s prosocial behaviours. Set against this context, we present the findings of our qualitative teacher inquiry project that examined the role of social stories intervention in developing children’s prosocial behaviours, particularly sharing. The study was conducted at a private kindergarten in Singapore with four preschool children between the ages of four and five with difficulties in sharing resources with peers in classroom settings. The findings show children’s gradual progress from self-centred behaviours to independent problem-solving and other-oriented sharing behaviours, demonstrating the importance of consistency, teacher facilitation and authenticity as the three key elements of a successful social stories intervention. Thus, this small-scale qualitative study adds value to the limited literature on social stories intervention to promote sharing behaviours in preschool children.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-02-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139683328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-17DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231221393
Simone Dunekacke, A.-K. van den Ham, M. Grüßing, A. Heinze
Mathematical competence in school-related contexts is a multidimensional construct that encompasses several content areas and cognitive components. Kindergarten children have experiences with different types of mathematical content. However, empirical research has focused mostly on children’s numerical skills, and less is known about their development in other mathematical content areas and interdependencies between areas, especially when it comes to less-structured approaches to early childhood education. The study investigated two research questions: (1) What is the structure of kindergarten children’s mathematical competence? (2) How do the different dimensions of mathematical competence develop over time? One-to-one interviews were completed with 442 kindergarten children to assess their mathematical competence at three measurement points. The results indicate that mathematical competence among kindergarten children should be treated as a multidimensional construct. Furthermore, the results indicate that skills in different content areas affect later skills in the same and in other content areas. Therefore, the results highlight the importance of addressing multiple mathematical content areas in early childhood.
{"title":"Structure and development of kindergarten children’s mathematical competence","authors":"Simone Dunekacke, A.-K. van den Ham, M. Grüßing, A. Heinze","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231221393","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231221393","url":null,"abstract":"Mathematical competence in school-related contexts is a multidimensional construct that encompasses several content areas and cognitive components. Kindergarten children have experiences with different types of mathematical content. However, empirical research has focused mostly on children’s numerical skills, and less is known about their development in other mathematical content areas and interdependencies between areas, especially when it comes to less-structured approaches to early childhood education. The study investigated two research questions: (1) What is the structure of kindergarten children’s mathematical competence? (2) How do the different dimensions of mathematical competence develop over time? One-to-one interviews were completed with 442 kindergarten children to assess their mathematical competence at three measurement points. The results indicate that mathematical competence among kindergarten children should be treated as a multidimensional construct. Furthermore, the results indicate that skills in different content areas affect later skills in the same and in other content areas. Therefore, the results highlight the importance of addressing multiple mathematical content areas in early childhood.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139527315","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-17DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231219580
Jaime Barratt, Dean Dudley, M. Stylianou, John Cairney
Physical inactivity has become increasingly prevalent among young children in early childhood education and care settings. One promising way to intervene and promote physical activity in these settings is to develop children’s physical literacy. Where most children spend their weekday in early childhood settings in the care of early childhood educators, the educators are viewed as ‘change agents’ and become responsible for developing children’s physical literacy. Thus, early childhood educators must possess adequate skills, knowledge, and practices to promote such development. However, research has yet to conceptualize a theory which identifies the significant capabilities and competencies that make early childhood educators, what we propose, an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Therefore, this paper draws on early childhood research regarding physical literacy, physical activity, and active play, to present a conceptual model theorizing an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Within this model, we propose educators’ professional identity and implementation of play-based pedagogy are essential characteristics of an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Furthermore, educators’ physical literacy capabilities (psychomotor, affective, social, and cognitive) are recognized as the vehicle that drives the aforementioned characteristics to be the Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. This conceptual model provides implications for future research to appropriately assess and target physical literacy interventions towards early childhood educators.
{"title":"A conceptual model of an effective early childhood physical literacy pedagogue","authors":"Jaime Barratt, Dean Dudley, M. Stylianou, John Cairney","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231219580","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231219580","url":null,"abstract":"Physical inactivity has become increasingly prevalent among young children in early childhood education and care settings. One promising way to intervene and promote physical activity in these settings is to develop children’s physical literacy. Where most children spend their weekday in early childhood settings in the care of early childhood educators, the educators are viewed as ‘change agents’ and become responsible for developing children’s physical literacy. Thus, early childhood educators must possess adequate skills, knowledge, and practices to promote such development. However, research has yet to conceptualize a theory which identifies the significant capabilities and competencies that make early childhood educators, what we propose, an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Therefore, this paper draws on early childhood research regarding physical literacy, physical activity, and active play, to present a conceptual model theorizing an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Within this model, we propose educators’ professional identity and implementation of play-based pedagogy are essential characteristics of an Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. Furthermore, educators’ physical literacy capabilities (psychomotor, affective, social, and cognitive) are recognized as the vehicle that drives the aforementioned characteristics to be the Effective Early Childhood Physical Literacy Pedagogue. This conceptual model provides implications for future research to appropriately assess and target physical literacy interventions towards early childhood educators.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139617077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-17DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231221363
A. Pyle, Hanna Wickstrom, Olivia Gross, Ellen Kraszewski
Teacher-facilitation of play is proposed as an effective method for supporting early literacy learning, however, educators remain uncertain how to balance child-autonomy in play while also directing play toward explicit academic objectives. In response, this study sought to understand how kindergarten teachers can successfully facilitate play to support early literacy development. Classroom observations and semistructured interviews were gathered and qualitatively analyzed to identify key perspectives and classroom practices that lead to the educators’ successful facilitation of play to support literacy. Results of this study showed how different core literacy skills can be supported through different types of play, with each offering unique and critical opportunities for learning. Results also demonstrated how a multitude of core literacy skills can be supported through guided approaches to play, and begin to illustrate how teachers are facilitating a continuum of guided play to support literacy learning.
{"title":"Supporting literacy development in kindergarten through teacher-facilitated play","authors":"A. Pyle, Hanna Wickstrom, Olivia Gross, Ellen Kraszewski","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231221363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231221363","url":null,"abstract":"Teacher-facilitation of play is proposed as an effective method for supporting early literacy learning, however, educators remain uncertain how to balance child-autonomy in play while also directing play toward explicit academic objectives. In response, this study sought to understand how kindergarten teachers can successfully facilitate play to support early literacy development. Classroom observations and semistructured interviews were gathered and qualitatively analyzed to identify key perspectives and classroom practices that lead to the educators’ successful facilitation of play to support literacy. Results of this study showed how different core literacy skills can be supported through different types of play, with each offering unique and critical opportunities for learning. Results also demonstrated how a multitude of core literacy skills can be supported through guided approaches to play, and begin to illustrate how teachers are facilitating a continuum of guided play to support literacy learning.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139616699","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-17DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231221360
Monika Pažur, Maja Drvodelić, Vlatka Domović
This article investigates the frequency of what we define as supportive and unsupportive parental behaviors and whether there is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of parental behaviors in reference to different parental characteristics (level of education, employment status, socio-economic status). This research involved a sample of 3500 parents of children aged 5 and 6. The results show that such supportive parental behaviors are used more frequently than unsupportive ones. Still, approximately 25% of parents implement modes of behavior that the literature suggests hinders children’s optimal development, whereas for 10% the frequency of such behaviors is very high. The results confirm that the level of education, employment status, and socio-economic family status represent significant factors in the quality of parental care. Moreover, these can enhance the risk factors in given familial contexts. In the process of creating support programs and finding ways of strengthening family resilience, and other public policies and strategies to prevent risks of social exclusion caused by familial factors, it is important to bear in mind the heterogeneity of the risks of social exclusion within the family and to respond to the specific needs and challenges of different parents and children. When it comes to developing policy, a one-size-fits all approach should, be avoided.
{"title":"Parental behaviors towards preschool age children in Croatia","authors":"Monika Pažur, Maja Drvodelić, Vlatka Domović","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231221360","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231221360","url":null,"abstract":"This article investigates the frequency of what we define as supportive and unsupportive parental behaviors and whether there is a statistically significant difference in the frequency of parental behaviors in reference to different parental characteristics (level of education, employment status, socio-economic status). This research involved a sample of 3500 parents of children aged 5 and 6. The results show that such supportive parental behaviors are used more frequently than unsupportive ones. Still, approximately 25% of parents implement modes of behavior that the literature suggests hinders children’s optimal development, whereas for 10% the frequency of such behaviors is very high. The results confirm that the level of education, employment status, and socio-economic family status represent significant factors in the quality of parental care. Moreover, these can enhance the risk factors in given familial contexts. In the process of creating support programs and finding ways of strengthening family resilience, and other public policies and strategies to prevent risks of social exclusion caused by familial factors, it is important to bear in mind the heterogeneity of the risks of social exclusion within the family and to respond to the specific needs and challenges of different parents and children. When it comes to developing policy, a one-size-fits all approach should, be avoided.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139617514","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The objective is to analyse the progress of a 2-year-olds classroom in a school in Cantabria (Spain) towards an inclusive participation project. The research, carried out over three school years, has been based on the qualitative paradigm and ethnographic approach. A variety of research strategies have been employed: participant observation; discussion groups; informal conversations; ambulation and child conferencing using image elicitation. We have analysed the transformation of the educational approach in a classroom for 2-year-olds into a pedagogy of inclusive participation. These transformation process have deployed through three practitioner enquiry cycles with different focuses: materials and proposals; curriculum as progetazzione; decision-making opportunities and child participation. These transformation processes have also allowed educators to move towards a critical ecology of the profession perspective. Finally, the teachers who enquired into their educational reality by listening to children, embarded on a process of transformation towards more participatory education.
{"title":"A participatory and inclusive 2-year-old infant classroom","authors":"Noel Ceballos, Ángela Saiz-Linares, Teresa Susinos","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231221364","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231221364","url":null,"abstract":"The objective is to analyse the progress of a 2-year-olds classroom in a school in Cantabria (Spain) towards an inclusive participation project. The research, carried out over three school years, has been based on the qualitative paradigm and ethnographic approach. A variety of research strategies have been employed: participant observation; discussion groups; informal conversations; ambulation and child conferencing using image elicitation. We have analysed the transformation of the educational approach in a classroom for 2-year-olds into a pedagogy of inclusive participation. These transformation process have deployed through three practitioner enquiry cycles with different focuses: materials and proposals; curriculum as progetazzione; decision-making opportunities and child participation. These transformation processes have also allowed educators to move towards a critical ecology of the profession perspective. Finally, the teachers who enquired into their educational reality by listening to children, embarded on a process of transformation towards more participatory education.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139617919","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-01-17DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231221367
E. Flynn
This current study shows the range of culturally-shaped, storytelling patterns present in three multicultural, multilingual preschool classrooms serving children from families with lower socioeconomic status in the U.S. Stories were collected in the context of a small group, child-led storytelling activity called story circles. Results show that story circles encourage diverse story forms and topics that reflect interdependent conceptions of self in young learners. In their stories, young children demonstrate the early emerging potential for cultivating linguistic and cultural dexterity in early childhood by surfacing and centering multiple meaning-making patterns in the classroom, rather than solely topic-centered, linear, temporal stories that predominate in U.S. schools.
{"title":"Supporting language diversities through story circles","authors":"E. Flynn","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231221367","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231221367","url":null,"abstract":"This current study shows the range of culturally-shaped, storytelling patterns present in three multicultural, multilingual preschool classrooms serving children from families with lower socioeconomic status in the U.S. Stories were collected in the context of a small group, child-led storytelling activity called story circles. Results show that story circles encourage diverse story forms and topics that reflect interdependent conceptions of self in young learners. In their stories, young children demonstrate the early emerging potential for cultivating linguistic and cultural dexterity in early childhood by surfacing and centering multiple meaning-making patterns in the classroom, rather than solely topic-centered, linear, temporal stories that predominate in U.S. schools.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2024-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139526686","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-05DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231210637
Veslemøy Rydland, V. Grøver
The present study investigated whether parent–child interactions during shared reading in a diverse sample of 91 three- to five-year-old dual language learners (DLLs) in Norway supported the development of the children’s first (L1) and second language (L2) vocabulary skills. The dyads spoke 11 different L1s (i.e., Arabic, Polish, Somali, and Urdu). The analysis of shared reading was based on predefined story elements in the book, and differentiated between whether central story elements were introduced as parent inferential questions and child responses, or as parent and child narrative statements. The children’s L1 and L2 receptive vocabulary skills were assessed prior to the reading as well as 8 months later. Regression analyses revealed that parent inferential questions predicted children’s L1 vocabulary development across the time-period. Child responses to adult inferential questions predicted their L1 and L2 vocabulary development. These findings support the growing research base that emphasizes the importance of eliciting child reasoning during shared reading.
{"title":"Parent inferential questions and child responses during shared reading predict DLLs’ receptive vocabulary development","authors":"Veslemøy Rydland, V. Grøver","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231210637","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231210637","url":null,"abstract":"The present study investigated whether parent–child interactions during shared reading in a diverse sample of 91 three- to five-year-old dual language learners (DLLs) in Norway supported the development of the children’s first (L1) and second language (L2) vocabulary skills. The dyads spoke 11 different L1s (i.e., Arabic, Polish, Somali, and Urdu). The analysis of shared reading was based on predefined story elements in the book, and differentiated between whether central story elements were introduced as parent inferential questions and child responses, or as parent and child narrative statements. The children’s L1 and L2 receptive vocabulary skills were assessed prior to the reading as well as 8 months later. Regression analyses revealed that parent inferential questions predicted children’s L1 vocabulary development across the time-period. Child responses to adult inferential questions predicted their L1 and L2 vocabulary development. These findings support the growing research base that emphasizes the importance of eliciting child reasoning during shared reading.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138600465","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-05DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231210641
Linda Henderson, J. Nuttall, Elizabeth Wood, Jenny Martin
There is considerable literature describing the use of Change Laboratory as a simultaneous research and intervention methodology in workplace settings. However, there is limited literature describing Change Laboratory from the researcher-facilitator perspective. This paper examines the ethical dimensions of Change Laboratory from this perspective and specifically how a ‘rule of care’ became a conscious rule. The context is a series of Change Laboratories implemented with Centre Directors and Educational Leaders from early childhood education and care centres in Darwin and Melbourne, Australia. Based on our analysis we attribute the emergence of this rule to a particular vulnerability of the participants: that they were all recruited from centres that had been publicly designated as Working Towards National Quality Standard requirements for quality early childhood education and care practices. We present evidence of this ‘rule of care’ in our work as researcher-facilitators from our data. We conclude that attention to a ‘rule of care’ is necessary to support transformation, particularly for vulnerable participants such as Educational Leaders.
{"title":"Educational leadership in early childhood education: Participant vulnerability and a ‘rule of care’","authors":"Linda Henderson, J. Nuttall, Elizabeth Wood, Jenny Martin","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231210641","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231210641","url":null,"abstract":"There is considerable literature describing the use of Change Laboratory as a simultaneous research and intervention methodology in workplace settings. However, there is limited literature describing Change Laboratory from the researcher-facilitator perspective. This paper examines the ethical dimensions of Change Laboratory from this perspective and specifically how a ‘rule of care’ became a conscious rule. The context is a series of Change Laboratories implemented with Centre Directors and Educational Leaders from early childhood education and care centres in Darwin and Melbourne, Australia. Based on our analysis we attribute the emergence of this rule to a particular vulnerability of the participants: that they were all recruited from centres that had been publicly designated as Working Towards National Quality Standard requirements for quality early childhood education and care practices. We present evidence of this ‘rule of care’ in our work as researcher-facilitators from our data. We conclude that attention to a ‘rule of care’ is necessary to support transformation, particularly for vulnerable participants such as Educational Leaders.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138598459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2023-12-05DOI: 10.1177/1476718x231210640
Mary M Jacobs
Families engage in a range of cultural practices in their everyday lives that shape children’s early literacies. Given the growing number of children who are living outside the country of their birth or their parents’ birth, more research is needed to highlight the under-recognised literacies of young children shaped by their family cultural practices and immigration experiences. This year-long qualitative study in an Aotearoa New Zealand playgroup explored how newly settled families worked to sustain their cultural practices and supported their young children’s understandings of new cultural norms in the context of immigration. Qualitative data collection methods included participant observation in the playgroup and photo-elicitation and semi-structured interview conversations in family languages. Findings highlight family aspirations and tensions regarding children’s participation in family cultural practices over time, sustaining family languages once children transitioned to school, and notions of belonging. Family participation was integral to interpreting children’s meaning-making in the playgroup, including how children flexibly navigated language differences and unfamiliar cultural practices. This study highlights the importance of learning from families about the linguistic and cultural resources young children draw on to represent, communicate and belong in a new country.
{"title":"Learning from newly settled families in an Aotearoa New Zealand playgroup","authors":"Mary M Jacobs","doi":"10.1177/1476718x231210640","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718x231210640","url":null,"abstract":"Families engage in a range of cultural practices in their everyday lives that shape children’s early literacies. Given the growing number of children who are living outside the country of their birth or their parents’ birth, more research is needed to highlight the under-recognised literacies of young children shaped by their family cultural practices and immigration experiences. This year-long qualitative study in an Aotearoa New Zealand playgroup explored how newly settled families worked to sustain their cultural practices and supported their young children’s understandings of new cultural norms in the context of immigration. Qualitative data collection methods included participant observation in the playgroup and photo-elicitation and semi-structured interview conversations in family languages. Findings highlight family aspirations and tensions regarding children’s participation in family cultural practices over time, sustaining family languages once children transitioned to school, and notions of belonging. Family participation was integral to interpreting children’s meaning-making in the playgroup, including how children flexibly navigated language differences and unfamiliar cultural practices. This study highlights the importance of learning from families about the linguistic and cultural resources young children draw on to represent, communicate and belong in a new country.","PeriodicalId":46652,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Early Childhood Research","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2023-12-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138601106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}