During the first year of a child’s life, it builds a primary bond with the closest family members (usually mother and father). Relationship with a close adult gives children a sense of security, enables them to engage in new tasks
By Ruth Heuvelman (CED-group) and Pauline Slot (Utrecht University) Recently, an increasing number of childcare organizations have been taken over by large investors. This evokes reactions from both proponents and opponents. Proponents indicate that this leads to investment in quality,
This blog post was contributed by Nadine Correia (ISCTE-IUL). Children classify, from an early age, the world surrounding them, in order to better understand it and to assign it meaning. The concept of gender is one of the first categories that children
This blog post was contributed by Eva Dierickx (AP). In general educators agree that an ideal preschool class offers every child the opportunity to develop optimally by providing an environment where they can improve their executive functions, establish healthy socio-emotional interactions,
This blog post was contributed by Olga Wysłowska (University of Warsaw). In a group of two-year-olds, children paint with small sponges. A teacher sitting at one of the tables with three children encourages them (or that is what she intends
This blog post was contributed by Nadine Correia (ISCTE-IUL). “This classroom is so beautiful because the teacher listens to children. Boys and girls can choose and do what they want to”(A., 5 years old). Children’s right to participate has gained
Kasia doesn’t want to sit down at the table at lunchtime. First, she screams loudly: No, no! She moves away from the group. The caregiver tries to encourage her to come back. Kasia screams louder and louder, finally pushes the
Not all children attending early childhood education classrooms speak the same first language. What to do when children express themselves in their mother tongue, and not in the language of instruction? If we invest in the first language (i.e., the mother tongue), can we delay learning the language of instruction or, conversely, can we foster the successful development of the two languages? How to respond to immigrant or ethnic minority parents when they ask what they should do at home to promote language development in general or to promote the learning of the language of instruction?
This blog post was contributed by Annemiek Hoppenbrouwers (Fontys hogeschool). “Did you have a nice holiday?” I ask my colleague. She starts telling me about the activities she and her children did together and how much fun that was. “So
This blog post was contributed by Hilde Stroobants & Tinne Van Camp (UCLL) “Look,” says Leentje, “the moon has curved lines and I made them beautiful!” “Tell me about that?” “I did a gem and a stone.” “How did you
