Three New Publications from the Bernard van Leer Foundation
EARLY CHILDHOOD: Transitions Research - A Review of Concepts, Theory,
and Practice
Children face many important changes in the first eight years of life, including different learning centres, social groups, roles and expectations. Their ability to adapt to such a dynamic and evolving environment directly affects their sense of identity and status within their community over the short and long term. In particular, the key turning points in children's lives - such as 'graduating' from kindergarten to primary school or going through a culturally specific rite of passage - provide challenges and opportunities for learning and growth on multiple levels.
This paper, published by the Bernard van Leer Foundation in collaboration with the Open University, provides a review of the major perspectives in research on early childhood transitions and reveals the predominant areas of focus in both academic and professional studies, as well as important neglected viewpoints and study populations. Beginning with a broad and inclusive definition of the topic, the authors provide an overview of early childhood transitions research, highlighting the underlying assumptions that informed the studies. They assess concepts in the developmental theory that preceded transitions research as well as in the logic that determines how transitions are structured. More recent approaches are examined, including systems theories and the role of children as active participants in transitions.
Broadening and diversifying perspectives on transitions can lead to more integrated and culturally relevant rights-based early childhood programmes worldwide. To download a PDF of this publication, click here.
Can We Really Help Create a Better World?
Now available for download (pdf) is the fourth in BvL's web-only series of Online Outreach Papers. The social agenda and early childhood care and education: Can we really help create a better world? looks at the changing economic and cultural context of early childhood and identifies imperatives for policy and leadership.
Language Acquisition in Daycare Settings
Focusing especially on children from immigrant families and those with a low socio-economic status, the foundation's latest working paper addresses theories on language development and asks what research tells us about the effect of preschoolers' social environment. Order your free copy or download the pdf.
