Pienten lasten osallisuus vuorohoidon iltojen vuorovaikutustilanteissa

Authors

• Eija Salonen University of Jyväskylä, Finland
• Eija Sevón Unversity of Jyväskylä, Finland
• Marja-Leena Laakso Unversity of Jyväskylä, Finland

Keywords:

young children, pienet lapset, flexibly scheduled ECEC, varhaiskasvatuksen vuorohoito, evening ECEC, vuorohoidon illat, participation, osallisuus

Abstract

The study explores the actualization of young children’s participation rights in evening early childhood education and care (ECEC). Data were collected by observing the evenings of 20 to 36-month-old children in two Finnish centres providing flexibly scheduled ECEC. Interactional situations were thematically analysed by applying Lundy’s (2007) model for conceptualizing children’s participation rights (Article 12 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child). Particular attention was paid to educators’ actions and the related possibilities of children to express their views, be heard, and influence the flow of events. The actualization of children’s participation rights was found to be challenged by changes in evening group composition and the institutional routines and norms of the ECEC centre. Despite this, many interactional situations were observed in which educators supported, listened to and considered children’s views. The results indicate that the small groups and flexible practices characteristic of evening ECEC support interaction in which children’s participation rights are actualized.