One of the critical challenges that faces societies today is how to educate children and young people to cope with the ever demanding contexts in which they live. This education must include the relationships and support that facilitate socio-emotional development. This writing explores the work of Pestalozzi, a pioneering pedagogue, who, over two…

The COVID-19 pandemic led to a swift transition to remote learning, impacting Early Childhood Education (ECE), especially for refugee children in low- and middle-income countries such as Malaysia. This study, conducted from March 2021 to March 2022, examined the digital aspects of ECE, including resources, instructions, and home learning…

Many governments have launched the top-down early childhood curriculum (ECC) reforms to enhance the accountability of early childhood education and care (ECEC) services. The present discourse analysis of latest ECC policies across four diverse but representative countries -- Australia, China, New Zealand, and Singapore -- aims to examine the…

The continued standardisation of publicly funded early education programmes has led to teacher educators and researchers focusing in on what works in preparing teachers and their students to succeed in these environments. Such a focus prioritises an epistemological understanding of teaching and learning and leads to investigations examining…

Evidence-based reform is transforming education at all levels, both in providing effective models for use in schools and in linking policy to effective practice on a broad scale. As early education moves from a concern with effects of preschool versus no preschool to focus on creating and evaluating effective preschool models capable of improving…

In a European comparison, the childcare profession in Germany has taken a distinct path of development which is closely interwoven with the history of early childhood education and care (ECEC) in general. Institutional choices critical to this path are the assignment of childcare as part of social welfare, the pursuit of a maternalist tradition in…

The purpose of this article is, first, to describe Sami children's education and its status in the Finnish education system and, secondly, to contemplate its development in Finland. The core of the article is intertwined with issues concerning the status, language, and culture of indigenous peoples. According to the article, the western school…

Examines the traditional place of play in contemporary early childhood programs in light of new directions in theory and curriculum, the push for educational outcomes, and perceived pressures of the global market economy. Maintains that a new focus on teaching through play may provide a way to reconcile demand for outcomes with a concern for…

Draws on research/development projects aimed at raising achievement through teaching thinking to explore core concepts of thinking skills and learning. Argues that educators need to move from the idea of developing the thinking child to creating powerful learning environments, thinking classroom, schools, and communities. Discusses approaches to…

Claims that kindergarten curriculum in Taiwan reflects both traditional Chinese values and the cultural changes that have taken place in modern times. Introduces the country's social context and changes in cultural values that have occurred due to multiculturalism. Points out that kindergarten curriculum now emphasizes cognitive development and is…

Examines the Greek National Curriculum for kindergarten within a historical/cultural perspective. Considers social development accompanying formation of the modern Greek state, problems of kindergarten teacher education, and elements of causal significance in production of Greece's National Curriculum. Critically examines aspects of the…

As Papua New Guinea undergoes a period of major education reform that includes the establishment of an elementary education programme, the development of an elementary teacher education curriculum is proving to be a challenging task. As a background this paper provides contextual information about the elementary education programme and highlights…

Suggests that the educational system in the United States needs to undergo significant reform. Specifically, education should be viewed not only as a means to an end that teaches basic skills for employment but also as a process that enhances social development and self-actualization. (MDM)

Provides background information on the existing educational practices in early childhood education in Hong Kong, highlights issues that require attention in order to improve quality, and outlines reforms introduced by the Hong Kong Education Commission. Discusses the implications of these reforms and the associated challenges in the areas of…

Defines and discusses professionalism, and discusses the certification, credentialing, and preparation of early childhood teachers in light of recent research on these topics and the educational reform movement. Argues that the integration of new knowledge emerging from studies of educational practice and child development can help raise levels of…