Building social capital in early childhood education and care: an Australian study

Abstract

Mounting research evidence demonstrates that effective ‘early childhood education and care’ (ECEC) has short‐term and longer‐term social and educational benefits for children and families. An allied body of evidence attests to the contribution of social capital (i.e. social networks and relationships based on trust) to such benefits. The research reported in this article bridges these two bodies of evidence by researching the social capital of children, their families and community members in the context of a state‐wide initiative (in Queensland, Australia) of integrated early childhood and family hubs. Drawn conceptually from the sociology of childhood, a methodological feature of the research is a broadened focus on children, not just adults, as reliable informants of their own everyday experience in ECEC. Some 138 children (aged 4–8 years) in urban and rural/remote localities in Queensland participated in research conversations about their social experience in and beyond ECEC. Children's social capital was found to be higher in the urban community than in the rural community, highlighting the potential of child and family hubs to strengthen children's social capital in those communities with few social facilities.

Partnership in Integrated Early Childhood Services: An Analysis of Policy Framings in Education and Human Services

“…Examples include 'early excellence centres' in the United Kingdom, which combine childcare, early education, family support, health services and adult education (Bertram & Pascal, 2001), and Toronto 'first duty' sites in Canada, which locate family support workers in early learning centres, taking children from birth to school entry (McCuaig, 2006). In Australia, integrated child and family hubs have been established in the state of Queensland (Farrell et al, 2004) and more recently in the authors' home state of South Australia. In 2004, the Government of South Australia commissioned an Inquiry into Early Childhood Services, which recommended the establishment of integrated children's centres.…”

Os desafios da pesquisa ética com crianças

“…No entanto, dentre os demais artigos, alguns autores afirmam terem obtido o TCLE dos participantes ou de seus responsáveis (Farrell, Tayler, & Tennent, 2012) e/ou que seguiram as determinações dos Códigos de Ética (profissionais) ou dos Comitês de Ética (vários). Outros, ainda, indicam referências bibliográficas de investigações que têm esse aspecto contemplado (Bühler-Niederberger, 2010;Tisdalla, Kay, & Punch, 2012).…”

Everyday Experiences of Homeless Young People in Supported Accommodation Programmes in Australia

“…Our work is indicative of growing methodological and analytical interest in listening to young people in Australia (Danby and Farrell, 2004; Farrell et al. , 2004) and the United Kingdom (Morrow, 2001; Mayall, 2002; Clarke et al.…”