A1 Journal article (refereed)
Children’s transitions in early childhood education and care : various combinations of dis-/continuities (2024)

Harju, K., Vuorisalo, M., Paananen, M., & Rutanen, N. (2024). Children’s transitions in early childhood education and care : various combinations of dis-/continuities. Early Years: An International Research Journal, 44(3-4), 735-750. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2023.2232951

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Harju, Kaisa; Vuorisalo, Mari; Paananen, Maiju; Rutanen, Niina

Journal or series: Early Years: An International Research Journal

ISSN: 0957-5146

eISSN: 1472-4421

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 10/07/2023

Volume: 44

Issue number: 3-4

Pages range: 735–750

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2023.2232951

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/88391

Abstract

This longitudinal multiple case study explores children’s transitions within early childhood education and care (ECEC) in Finland. In ECEC children typically transition from one group or center to another. This study explores how physical, social and philosophical discontinuities and continuities constitute these transitions. Five focus children’s transitions were followed in and between separate ECEC centers. The data include interviews with parents and educators as well as observations noted. Fabian’s discontinuity division, which argues that transition consists of physical, social, and philosophical discontinuities, was used for content analysis of interviews as primary data. Interpretations were reflected on and supplemented with fieldnotes as secondary data. Analysis demonstrated that children’s transitions in ECEC comprise various permutations of discontinuities and continuities. Based on our findings, we suggest that the dis-/continuities in children’s daily lives should be considered when identifying and planning transitions as well as in planning ECEC centers’ operation and grouping structures.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; discontinuity; continuity; day care; child development

Free keywords: early childhood education and care; transitions; discontinuity; continuity; longitudinal multiple case study

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 1