A1 Journal article (refereed)
Children’s bodily positioning in accounts of naptime in early childhood education and care : a Foucauldian perspective (2024)

Kuukka, A., Salonen, E., & Sevon, E. (2024). Children’s bodily positioning in accounts of naptime in early childhood education and care : a Foucauldian perspective. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, Early online. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2024.2412127

JYU authors or editors

Salonen, Eija
Sevon, Eija

Publication details

All authors or editors: Kuukka, Anu; Salonen, Eija; Sevon, Eija

Journal or series: European Early Childhood Education Research Journal

ISSN: 1350-293X

eISSN: 1752-1807

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 10/10/2024

Volume: Early online

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293x.2024.2412127

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Partially open access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/97439

Abstract

Naptime practices of early childhood education and care (ECEC) have been found to place children’s bodies under adult governance, leaving children few possibilities for agency and influence (e.g. Kuukka Citation2015; Nothard et al. Citation2015). In this study, we explore children’s (aged five to seven) accounts of naptime in ECEC, asking how children’s bodily positioning is manifested in them. We analysed two data sets: (1) ethnographic conversations and interviews with children in ECEC, and (2) children’s imaginative narratives on naptime in ECEC. The children’s accounts manifested three bodily positionings: docile, demurring, and rebellious bodies. The findings indicate children have limited possibilities for agency and control over their bodies in this context, although, according to the UNCRC, they have a right to have an influence in matters affecting them (UNICEF Citation1989). The study highlights the significance of considering naptime anew from the perspective of diminishing adult governance of children’s bodies in ECEC.

Keywords: early childhood education and care; day care centres; children (age groups); naps; autonomy (cognition); sleep; well-being