‘The Child in Early Childhood Education’ was the topic under focus in a recent half-day seminar organised by the Lisa Maria Foundation.
Within the local context, many/most of our young children are spending time in childcare and kindergarten settings. Much has been said and done to promote services for young children. The availability and accessibility of kindergarten settings is not disputed; the availability of childcare services has risen dramatically in a relatively short period of time and we are witnessing an ongoing increase in the setting up of new centres with a view to welcoming babies, toddlers and infants.
The opening hours of childcare and kindergarten settings have been adjusted with extensions to either end of the ‘main hours’, through additional services. Breakfast clubs and after-school activities are available for kindergarten children. Most of these changes have occurred, in order to accommodate adults, parents, the labour market and the contribution of parents and legal guardians to the economy.
Despite discourse about the love for children and the nurturing and protection they need because of their vulnerability, we have spent very little time and effort considering how our well-meaning decisions impact children’s lives; disregarded children’s views and perspectives; and failed to consider what young children themselves make of their lived experiences.
These shortcomings speak volumes about how adults and society perceive children, their competences and abilities. Choosing the theme – ‘The Child in Early Childhood Education’ – was therefore a timely invitation for the seminar participants to reflect on why, how, when and where children’s voices can be well and truly heard.
Despite discourse about the love for children and the nurturing and protection they need, we have spent very little time and effort considering how our well-meaning decisions impact children’s lives
The keynote presentation during the seminar was delivered by Prof. Noirin Hayes, Visiting Professor at the School of Education, Trinity College Dublin and Professor Emerita, Centre for Social and Educational Research, Dublin Institute of Technology. Her presentation was entitled ‘What they have to say: Hearing young voices in ECEC practice, policy and research’.
During the presentation, Prof. Hayes outlined the historical and scientific views which have led to the focus on the value which can be attributed to listening to children’s voices and to creating and facilitating opportunities to allow them to have a say in matters which directly affect them. Such a stance assumes that adults believe in children as competent experts who have certain abilities and experiences and who have a right to share their insights and perspectives.
This is not easy to achieve as it involves changes in cultures and mentalities and changes to adults’ beliefs about the roles of children in society and their views about childhood. Despite the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has obtained near universal ratification, embracing, allowing, understanding and engaging with the true meaning and implications of these rights for children as citizens has been and continues to be something of a struggle.
Participants at the seminar also had the opportunity to discuss and debate the concept of listening to children’s voice and challenges which prevent children from participating actively.
The seminar was concluded with a short presentation in which I argued that children’s age and vulnerability should not be used as the justification for adults to take decisions on behalf of children. Voices are there to be heard and responded to, irrespective of the age of the speaker. Like all other human beings, all children thrive on having their voices heard but this requires adults to find time and develop ways of understanding how young children communicate.
The seminar presentations will shortly be available on the Facebook page of the Lisa Maria Foundation. The Lisa Maria Foundation is a non-profit organisation, set up in 2014 with a view to transforming a tragic experience into a positive and constructive project. Its main aim is the safeguarding of children and young people from harm and promoting their welfare.
Valerie Sollars is Professor, Early Childhood and Primary Education, Faculty of Education, University of Malta.