Maritta Hännikäinen

No active affiliation

Research interests

1.EMOTIONAL WELLBEING OF THE YOUNGER CHILDREN IN DAY-CARE GROUPS: PARTICIPATION, SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS AND TEACHERS’ ROLE IN JOINT ACTIVITIES The aim of this qualitative, ethnographic research project is to examine wellbeing of one- to three-year-old children in day-care centres and the ways in which teachers support children's wellbeing. The project consists of several sub-studies, such as emotional wellbeing in children’s play; care, upbringing and teaching from the viewpoint of wellbeing; the ways in which emotions, cognitions and social relationships are interwoven in teacher-directed activities; the teacher’s lap as site of wellbeing. The project is expected e.g. to help to develop pedagogical practices which promote children’s wellbeing, learning and development; offer suggestions for education and personal development of the teachers; provide criteria for policymaking in relation to education of the very young children. 2.CURRICULUM AND QUALITY ANALYSIS AND IMPACT REVIEW OF EUROPEAN EARLY CHILHOOD EDUCATION AND CARE (CARE) The CARE research project coordinated by the University of Utrecht comprises 11 countries, including Finland (University of Jyväskylä). The aim of the project is to develop an evidence-based and culture-sensitive European framework of (a) developmental goals, quality assessment, curriculum approaches and policy measures for improving the quality and effectiveness of early cjildhood education and care(ECEC); and (b) effective strategies of organizing, funding and governing ECEC that increase the impact of ECEC. The work packages use methodology such as secondary analyses of existing longitudinal data, case studies using new data of classroom observations, and review of country specific documents and previous studies to examine curriculum, pedagogy and quality characteristics that contribute most to child development, learning and wellbeing. The goal of the project is to inform parents, professionals, service providers, teacher educators and policymakers about key-aspects of quality and effective curricula in ECEC, and to inform policy makers about effective strategies of governing and funding ECEC.

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Publications and other outputs