Love-based relationships between teachers and students in early childhood education

Abstract

As a philosophical basis of education, ‘love’ is crucial to early childhood education. For this reason, early childhood education should cultivate young children’s loving attitudes. Hence, by analysing related work, this paper explored how love-based relationships may be developed between preschool teachers and young children in early childhood education. The methods are as follows: (1) fostering love in preschool teachers’ hearts; (2) creating loving relationships between preschool teachers and young children; (3) providing opportunities for young children to practice loving behaviour; (4) giving young children freedom; (5) maintaining an open dialogue; (6) emphasising democratic participation; (7) avoiding indoctrination; (8) respecting young children’s experiences and discoveries; (9) allowing young children to make choices and (10) understanding young children as individuals.