Democratic, caring and disciplinary values in Danish preschools: Bringing values together

Författare
Hansen, O. H., Jensen, A. S. & Broström, S.
År
2020

Syfte

The study investigates attitudes, norms and values related to democracy, care and disciplinary reactions among kindergarten employees in Denmark. The research question is: How are values related to democracy, care and discipline communicated, expressed and negotiated between kindergarten staff and children?

Resultat

The study provided insight into the kindergarten employees’ basis for the expectations they had of the children when, for example, the children were instructed to sit still or interact with other children in positive ways. The study also shows the extent to which kindergarten employees expect children to be able to comply with rules and instructions, as well as the methods empathetic kindergarten employees use to help children negotiate changes in the child group’s social hierarchy.

Design

Employees in three Danish kindergartens were followed by the researchers over a period of two years. The researchers video recorded selected daily activities in the kindergartens. The researchers also arranged reflection seminars with the kindergarten employees involved. The kindergarten staff had the opportunity to see excerpts from the video recordings and, in collaboration with the researchers, reflect on other ways of acting. The data collection was cyclical, i.e. ideas that emerged in the reflection seminars were tested out before they became the subject of new discussions and reflections in collaboration between kindergarten employees and researchers.

Referenser

Hansen, O. H., Jensen, A. S. & Broström, S. (2020). “Democratic, caring and disciplinary values in Danish preschools: Bringing values together”. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 21(4):340-355.

Uppdragsgivare

NordForsk, Nordic region