Purpose
The study investigates kindergarten children’s reactions to the coronavirus outbreak in Sweden and Finland. The purpose is to highlight different forms of participation in the children. The article discusses how participation gives children the opportunity to develop resilience in crisis situations. The research questions are: 1) What descriptions do the kindergarten staff give of what the children express regarding the outbreak of the coronavirus? 2) What types of participation are the children involved in?
Result
The results show that children’s expressions about the coronavirus are multifaceted and manifest themselves through four different forms of participation: 1) Participation related to health aspects of the coronavirus. 2) Participation related to existential turmoil, as well as expressions of care. 3) Participation related to social restrictions and changed routines. 4) Participation through play, creation and humour. The researchers believe that children can develop resilience in crisis situations by participating in several ways in connection with a social crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic.
Design
The data material was collected using a survey targeting kindergarten employees in Sweden and Finland and was published on social media in the spring of 2020. The survey focuses on how the employees interpret the children’s expressions about the virus. A total of 79 responses were collected. The data material analysis was inspired by hermeneutic, reflexive interpretation.
References
Heikkilä, M., Furu, A.-C., Hellman, A., Lillvist, A. & Rantala, A. (2020). «Barns deltagande i förskole- och daghemskontext under inledningen av coronavirusets utbrott i Finland och Sverige». Barn, 38(2):13-28.