A1 Journal article (refereed)
Enrichment and safety : the parents of young children constructing early childhood education and care institution in Finland (2024)

Kivimäki, M., Karila, K., & Alasuutari, M. (2024). Enrichment and safety : the parents of young children constructing early childhood education and care institution in Finland. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 32(4), 577-590. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2023.2274537

The research was funded by Strategic Research Council at the Research Council of Finland.

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kivimäki, Mirka; Karila, Kirsti; Alasuutari, Maarit

Journal or series: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal

ISSN: 1350-293X

eISSN: 1752-1807

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 26/10/2023

Volume: 32

Issue number: 4

Pages range: 577-590

Publisher: Routledge

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2023.2274537

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/91820

Abstract

Parents` significance in early childhood education and care (ECEC) is emphasized in the research, but primarily from the perspective of ECEC professionals. Drawing on discursive institutionalism, we analysed what parents of young children in Finland constructed as essential in ECEC from the child`s point of view in their discussions concerning the forms of ECEC services. We found that parents constructed ECEC through two interconnected frames: enrichment and safety. The frames indicate that an individual child and her well-being here and now are considered essential in ECEC for Finnish parents. Parents’ interpretations differ from one of the global discourses of ECEC, which emphasizes children`s development for the future. On the other hand, parents’ discourses maintain the cultural distinctions traditionally present in the Finnish ECEC institution. Our study underscores the significance of scrutinizing the construction of educational institutions in the discourses of those whose everyday lives these institutions are.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; institutions (social mechanisms); parents; children (age groups); discourse analysis

Free keywords: early childhood education and care; institutions; parents of young children; discursive institutionalism; discourse analysis

Contributing organizations

Related projects

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2023

JUFO rating: 2