Supporting Early Childhood Practice Through Difficult Times Looking Towards a Better Future

1. Early Childhood Practice in Difficult Times   
Ute Ward

Part I: The Impact of Digitalisation

2. The Mixed Blessing of Digital Tools 
Ute Ward

3. Big sister' is watching: a feminist critical discourse analysis of texts supporting the use of live stream video feed technology in licensed childcare programs in Ontario and Alberta, Canada
Brooke Richardson and Joanne Lehrer

4. Using the European Framework for the Digital Competence of Educators to develop didactic Tools on AI for Early Childhood Settings     
Ulrike Stadler-Altmann

5. Narratives of Crisis: raising children in digital times   
Naomi Hodgson & Stefan Ramaekers

Part II: Early Childhood Workforce and Management Issues

6. Enhancing the Development of Practitioners and Settings       
Ute Ward

7. Professional development of Croation EC teachers in a virtual world - opportunity or obstacle?
Adrijana Višnjić-Jevtić & Antonija Vukašinović

8. Impacts of neoliberal inspired policies on educators’ professional identity in five countries: Visions for a better future        
Marg Rogers, Fabio Dovigo, Laura Doan, Khatuna Dolidze and Astrid Mus Rasmussen

9. Fostering practice-based philosophy in early years professionals         
Lewis Stockwell and Michael Young

10. The LEYF Model: A sustainable ECEC model that addresses the disadvantage gap          
June O'Sullivan 

11. Seeking and listening to families in updating Australia's Approved learning frameworks     
Fay Hadley, Linda Harrison, Leanne Lavina, Lennie Barblett, Susan Irvine, Francis Bobongie-Harris, and Jennifer Cartmel

Part III: Alternative Pedagogies and Practices           

12. Embracing Diversity and Inclusion  
Ute Ward

13. The quiddity of inclusion: Knowing what matters in early childhood  
Sharon Skehill

14. Increasing inclusivity through embedding art in daily practice           
Silvia Blanch-Gelabert & Gemma Paris-Romain

15. Imagination: the missing element in ECE?   
Sue Nimmo

16. Education at the crossfire: a human right approach to support children with disabilities in disasters
Mabel Giraldo

17. Children reading to their parents - From Australia to Israel - Implementation and Challenges
Sigal Tish, Sivon Shatil Carmon and Clodie Tal

Part IV: More than education and care: Philosophical Perspectives on Early Childhood Practice

18. The need for different ways of thinking        
Ute Ward

19. Learning in and from nature: Supporting Children's Development     
Mehmet Mart

20. A Posthuman Perspective: Learning Entanglements Among a Child, Family Members, and the Material World
Sally Brown

21. The Concept of Dialogue: bell hooks, Paulo Freire, and the English Early Years Sector
Poppie Ephgrave

22. Nurturing the spiritual in children - enacting a spiritual pedagogy to develop children's sense of self 
Liz Rouse

23. Towards a better future       
Ute Ward

Biography

Ute Ward is a former Senior Lecturer at the University of Hertfordshire, UK.

"This fascinating collaboration of national and international perspectives on some extremely topical subjects is going to be a great addition to the literature to support those working in the Early Years sector as well as students studying early childhood.  The authors have all shared their research, practice ideas and innovative ways of working which will undoubtedly enable reflection and thought for anyone engaging in the texts.  Practitioners within the Early Years sector reading this book are invited to open their minds to a range of both national and international perspectives which will both challenge and influence their practice with young children.  With such a vast range of subjects this book would be a great addition for any EY student.  The gentle introductory chapters at the start of each section carefully sets the context for the reader to know what to expect, making this a great text for dipping into or (as I did) read in its entirety."

Joanne Benford, Programme Leader for Undergraduate Programmes, Pen Green Centre for Children & Families, UK


“This book has an urgent and interesting content for both practitioners, students, and researchers within Early Childhood Education (ECE). The book outlines the current state of ECE in relation to the challenges and possibilities that our world and society are facing. I especially agree with the overall question about how ECE can make a difference in children’s life. But this book also helps me to see ECE as a part of everyone´s life – not only the children´s life.”

Charlotte Öhman, University Lecturer and PhD student, Jönköping University, Sweden