Revisiting Images of the Child in Early Childhood Education: Reflections and Considerations

Abstract

There have been a number of recent developments impacting on the field of early childhood education that suggest it might be timely to reexamine our understandings of children and childhood. Events such as the development of mandated curriculum for the non-compulsory years, the implementation of diagnostic tools and assessment regimes in the first years of school and moral panic over paedophilia are all underpinned by certain views of the child and ideals of childhood. This article explores how three dominant constructions of the child embedded in early childhood policy and practice are problematic, particularly in terms of power relationships and agency for the child and how they may constrain the possibilities in early childhood curriculum. The analysis concludes that taking a critical perspective on these childhood images helps reveal hidden assumptions and creates an opportunity for new kinds of images that offer alternative positions to the child as an active social agent and reorient early childhood curriculum towards its transformational possibilities.

Feeling connected to younger versus older selves: The asymmetric impact of life stage orientation

“…Likely stemming from their ontogenetic roots, the concept of youth is almost universally associated with feelings and emotions, and the concept of adulthood with thinking and cognitive skill (Gino & Desai, 2012;Gray & Wegner, 2009;Loughnan & Haslam, 2007;Woodrow, 1999). An online pilot study confirmed these associations in terms of experience and agency.…”

Reading Photographs of Young Children: Looking at Practices

“…The image of the 'innocent child' is a powerful one in contemporary Western culture and in early childhood education (Woodrow, 1999) and, however unintentional, holding this image can result in patronising or coddling practices. In her analysis of the power of public imagery, Holland (1992) discussed how photographs of young children tend to work on the viewer.…”

The Impact of HR Practices on Employees’ Performance: An Imperative Role of Islamic Work Ethics

“…In case the workers recognize that the performance assessment methods applicable in the organisation are impartial and fair, it promotes the belief on the association and this finally leads to enhanced employees' performance. Woodrow (1999) suggested in the light of Islamic values three fundamental aspects about HRM in an organization, namely performance appraisal, training and empowerment. Along with that, the employees working in the light of IWE and principles could achieve their goals and objectives in better way.…”