Developing Children´s Participation through Research and Reflective Practices

Abstract

This paper is based on an early childhood education development project in the Helsinki Metropolitan area Finland. Development in 21 research day care centres was implemented by reflective practices within everyday activities. Therefore this study has both practical and theoretical interests. As an example of reflective practice, we describe and examine the development process for facilitating children´s participation during 2009-2011. The data of evolving participation were collected with a survey implemented twice in both 2010 and 2011. Based on the results, children´s participation has proceeded in various daily activities. The reflective development of participatory practices has been considered as a common problem solving process, where all participants can use their professional expertise to create better early childhood education for children and with children.