Cross-Cultural Psychology of Play and Early Childhood Education

2018 ◽  
pp. 184-201
Author(s):  
Asil Ali Özdoğru
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
Central Element ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Multicultural Environment ◽  
Globalizing World ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Theory Research

Play is a universal form of human behavior that has been observed across all cultures and constitutes a fundamental role in children's development. This chapter summarizes theory, research, and practice of play in early childhood education from a cross-cultural perspective. Even though there are common qualities of play, there is a great deal of variation within and across cultures. In the multicultural environment of globalizing world, early childhood professionals need to make better use of play from an intercultural perspective. Effective utilization of play in early childhood education needs a thorough understanding of scientific theories and cross-cultural research on play. Quality early childhood education programs incorporate play as a central element in the curriculum with consideration of both individual- and group-level differences. Developmentally and culturally appropriate practice in early childhood education demands the assessment and utilization of individual and cultural characteristics of children in the planning and implementation of play-based interventions.

Cross-Cultural Psychology of Play and Early Childhood Education

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-19
Author(s):  
Asil Ali Özdoğru
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
Central Element ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Multicultural Environment ◽  
Globalizing World ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Theory Research

Play is a universal form of human behavior that has been observed across all cultures and constitutes a fundamental role in children's development. This chapter summarizes theory, research, and practice of play in early childhood education from a cross-cultural perspective. Even though there are common qualities of play, there is a great deal of variation within and across cultures. In the multicultural environment of globalizing world, early childhood professionals need to make better use of play from an intercultural perspective. Effective utilization of play in early childhood education needs a thorough understanding of scientific theories and cross-cultural research on play. Quality early childhood education programs incorporate play as a central element in the curriculum with consideration of both individual- and group-level differences. Developmentally and culturally appropriate practice in early childhood education demands the assessment and utilization of individual and cultural characteristics of children in the planning and implementation of play-based interventions.

Yoruba toddlers’ engagement in errands and cognitive performance on the Yoruba Mental Subscale

2002 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 145-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluyomi A. Ogunnaike ◽  
Robert F. Houser
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Cognitive Performance ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Child Rearing ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Cultural Research ◽  
Cross Cultural Research ◽  
Southwest Nigeria ◽  
The Relationship

Responsibility training is an essential component of child-rearing practices in several African societies. To inculcate responsibility, caregivers allocate their children household duties and send them on errands; these include (but are not limited to) fetching objects and purchasing items. Such errands foster the acquisition of cognitive, social, and economic competencies. In this paper, the relationship between the types of errands engaged in by Yoruba toddlers of southwest Nigeria and cognitive performance using an adapted version of the Bayley Mental Scales of Development, referred to as the Yoruba Mental Subscale, is examined. Findings revealed that children who engaged in purchasing items and retrieving specific objects for the caregiver had a significantly higher performance on the Yoruba Mental Subscale compared to children who did not engage in such errands. With regard to performance on the Bayley Mental Scales, findings revealed no significant association with the errands examined. The implications of these findings for cross-cultural research and early childhood education are discussed.

Revising Cultural Competence and Critical Consciousness for Early Childhood Education

2020 ◽  
pp. 327-352
Author(s):  
Ambika Gopal Raj
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Cultural Competence ◽  
Critical Pedagogy ◽  
Critical Consciousness ◽  
Cultural Psychology ◽  
Community Cultural Wealth ◽  
Cultural Wealth ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Instructional Settings

This chapter revises two important critical pedagogy concepts—cultural competence and critical consciousness—so they make meaning in early childhood educational contexts. Cultural psychology theories are used to re-conceptualize these terms from a non-Euro-centric perspective to emphasize that children's holistic development is nuanced particularly by the communities that they develop within. These terms are also examined from a critical pedagogical context of “super-diversity” through a discussion on identity and community cultural wealth to broach the idea that sites of early childhood education must serve as spaces that give agency and empowerment, given the trans-migratory world we live in. Further, Derman-Sparks and Edwards' conception of anti-bias education is demonstrated in the use of Persona Dolls, specifically for pedagogical leadership, in instructional settings as a way to broach critical pedagogy. Finally, some strategies for pedagogical leadership are suggested.

Understanding the Contribution of Visual Methods to Early Childhood Research: A Cross-Cultural Investigation

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Joseph Seyram Agbenyega ◽  
Sunanta Klibthong
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Political Ideology ◽  
Cross Cultural ◽  
Visual Methods ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Education Needs ◽  
Research In Education ◽  
Methodological Paper

Research in education has previously been dominated by what Law (2007) terms the “hygienic forms” (p. 33). Hygienic forms apply to positivistic quantitative traditions which claim supremacy over other forms of knowing. In this methodological paper we report on a phenomenon auto-driven visual elicitation approach of an on going research which attempts to make sense of how children (3-5 year olds) in cross-cultural settings understand risk and safety situations in their settings. We reflect on the concern for contextual reflexivity, emanating from the notion that research activity in early childhood education is “in danger of succumbing to political ideology and methodological fashion” (Prosser & Loxley, 2007, p. 1). We argue that research into early childhood education needs to acknowledge the implicit tensions between conventional empirical research and the politics of research methodology and that researchers cannot bring to the fore everything that is there to be known about child development and learning through orthodox mechanistic means. There are quotidian aspects of children's experiences, development and learning which can best be captured by visual methods that combine other approaches like interviews and observations. The paper concludes with some reflections on the ethical dilemmas and validity issues that confront the researcher when the visual and digital are used across cultures with children.

The value added of attachment theory, research, and intervention for US child care and early childhood education: Reflecting and carrying forward the legacy of Edward Zigler

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Lisa J. Berlin
Keyword(s):  
Early Childhood ◽  
Child Care ◽  
Early Childhood Education ◽  
Head Start ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Policy Development ◽  
Value Added ◽  
Childhood Education ◽  
Developmental Science ◽  
Theory Research

Abstract Edward Zigler pioneered and insisted upon the integration of science, practice, and policy development to support vulnerable children and families, reduce poverty, and improve US wellbeing, writ large. His far-reaching scholarship in turn critically shaped developmental science and US policy in multiple areas. This review reflects upon Zigler's influence on US child care, Head Start, Early Head Start, and prekindergarten programs. It describes the integration of one major area of developmental science, the field of attachment theory, research, and intervention, with US child care and early childhood education programs and policy. The integration of attachment into these systems not only epitomizes Zigler's overarching canon but also has improved services and advanced attachment theory and research. Throughout the review, I suggest next steps for leveraging attachment theory, research, and intervention to improve US child care and early childhood education systems in ways that both reflect and carry forward the legacy of Edward Zigler.

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