A1 Journal article (refereed)
Relational approach to infant-teacher lap interactions during the transition from home to early childhood education and care (2022)

Lucas Revilla, Y., Rutanen, N., Harju, K., Sevon, E., & Raittila, R. (2022). Relational approach to infant-teacher lap interactions during the transition from home to early childhood education and care. Journal of Early Childhood Education Research, 11(1), 253-271. https://journal.fi/jecer/article/view/114018

JYU authors or editors

Lucas Revilla, Yaiza
Rutanen, Niina
Harju, Kaisa
Sevon, Eija
Raittila, Raija

Publication details

All authors or editors: Lucas Revilla, Yaiza; Rutanen, Niina; Harju, Kaisa; Sevon, Eija; Raittila, Raija

Journal or series: Journal of Early Childhood Education Research

eISSN: 2323-7414

Publication year: 2022

Volume: 11

Issue number: 1

Pages range: 253-271

Publisher: Suomen varhaiskasvatus ry

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://journal.fi/jecer/article/view/114018

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/79686

Abstract

The transition from home care to early childhood education and care (ECEC) is a period of intense change and development in young children's socio-spatial worlds. This article focuses on infant–teacher lap interactions during this transition period. This investigation applies a relational approach to the study of infant–teacher lap interactions. In doing so, it highlights the inherently social and contextual nature of interaction. From a relational perspective, actors, context, and situation are seen as constitutive of each other, and their interrelationality is considered central to the emergence of interactions. The data, regarding infants' first months attending ECEC in Finland, is composed of teachers’ interviews and participant observations in the form of videos and field notes. The results illustrate infant–teacher lap interactions as constructed in the interplay among actors, context, and situation. This research advances an understanding of transitions as relational processes that develop through time and are constructed within a network of temporal, agentic, contextual, and situational aspects.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; day care; transitional phases; babies; social interaction

Free keywords: infants; educational transitions; relational ontology; video data

Fields of science: