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Using a multilevel random-coefficient approach, we examined the longitudinal association between toddlers' early shyness and their well-being during their first year in Norwegian early childhood education and care (ECEC) centres. We used data from two measurement points (preintervention and postintervention) from a larger cluster randomized controlled trial study, Thrive by 3. We followed 567 children (answered by 415 mothers and 152 fathers) who were younger than 19 months and had just started in ECEC at preintervention. Our findings indicate that toddlers' early shyness during their starting period in ECEC is associated with their well-being by the end of their first year in ECEC. Our findings highlight the importance of paying extra attention to shy toddlers, as they seem to show less well-being during their early period in ECEC. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03879733. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review concerns how quality in ECEC is thematized and examined in Norwegian research published in 2010–2021. The review contributes to developing relevant professional knowledge and insight into what quality in ECEC is, should be or can be. A systematic scoping review includes 97 empirical studies of quality in the Norwegian ECEC context. The results show an increase in studies addressing quality after the year 2017. Most studies use interviews and observations, i.e., qualitative data. Research based on quantitative studies mainly applies to questionnaires, whereas multi-method designs occur with the third greatest frequency. The majority of the studies are descriptive or explore relationships. A few studies concern method development, interventions or reviews of the literature. ECEC staff and ECEC teachers are the most common informants. Two-thirds of the studies included were published in English, and only one-third were published in Norwegian. Thematically, process quality emerges as the most studied dimension of quality, dominated by investigating the aspect of staff–child interactions. About one-third of the studies investigate structural quality, with most attention paid to the physical environment and the organization of the ECEC provisions. Less research is directed at result (outcome) quality and curriculum quality. This overview contributes to increased knowledge about how quality is understood and used in research, as an essential prerequisite for creating a safe and sound everyday life for children in ECEC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intergenerational programs have benefits for both children and older adults; however, the ongoing pandemic has changed social situations across the globe. The focus of this article is on exploring transitions and transformations due to societal conditions and demands that drive the implementation of intergenerational programs during a time of a global crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic. Through an online survey form and focus group discussion, a total of 64 kindergarten practitioners shared their perspectives on intergenerational programs between young children and older adults in kindergartens in Norway. Kindergarten practitioners identified challenges that hinder intergenerational programs in kindergarten settings during the pandemic, as well as conditions that facilitate its implementation. Implications from this research indicate the need to think differently to be able to provide children with intergenerational experiences in kindergarten settings in Norway even during the pandemic and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review concerns how quality in ECEC is thematized and examined in Norwegian research published in 2010–2021. The review contributes to developing relevant professional knowledge and insight into what quality in ECEC is, should be or can be. A systematic scoping review includes 97 empirical studies of quality in the Norwegian ECEC context. The results show an increase in studies addressing quality after the year 2017. Most studies use interviews and observations, i.e., qualitative data. Research based on quantitative studies mainly applies to questionnaires, whereas multi-method designs occur with the third greatest frequency. The majority of the studies are descriptive or explore relationships. A few studies concern method development, interventions or reviews of the literature. ECEC staff and ECEC teachers are the most common informants. Two-thirds of the studies included were published in English, and only one-third were published in Norwegian. Thematically, process quality emerges as the most studied dimension of quality, dominated by investigating the aspect of staff–child interactions. About one-third of the studies investigate structural quality, with most attention paid to the physical environment and the organization of the ECEC provisions. Less research is directed at result (outcome) quality and curriculum quality. This overview contributes to increased knowledge about how quality is understood and used in research, as an essential prerequisite for creating a safe and sound everyday life for children in ECEC.

Risky play is defined as thrilling and challenging forms of play that have the potential for physical injury and has been linked to development and health benefits for children in the early years. These benefits include risk-assessment skills, increased physical activity and well-being, and promoting social competencies and resilience. Currently, in a Western context, children's opportunities for risky play are decreasing and at the same time, childhood inactivity and coinciding health concerns are on the rise. Risky play may help ameliorate some current health problems for children. This research aimed to increase understanding of how children use affordances (environmental factors that intersect with and influence human behaviours) for risky play. Physical environmental factors have been found to influence children's affordances for all play, including risky play. The study employed a deductive analysis of participant-observer field notes and focused-video observations in order to identify how children utilize indoor and outdoor environmental features for risky play. Data was interpreted through Gibson's theory of affordances and was then fit to established taxonomies of environments for children's risky play. Research was conducted with children, ages 3–4 years, at a kindergarten in Norway. Findings identified environmental affordances for risky play that were actualized by children in this study. We propose that findings from this study may be useful in considering the physical design of early childhood education play spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who experience well-being are engaging more confidently and positively with their caregiver(s) and peers, which helps them to profit more from available learning opportunities and support current and later life outcomes. The goodness-of-fit theory suggests that children's well-being might be a result of the interplay between their temperament and the environment. However, there is a lack of studies that examined the association between children's temperament and well-being in early childhood education and care (ECEC), and whether this association is affected by ECEC process quality. Using a multilevel random coefficient approach, this study examines the association between toddlers' (N = 1,561) temperament (shyness, emotionality, sociability, and activity) and well-being in Norwegian ECEC and investigates whether process quality moderates this association. Results reveal an association between temperament and well-being. Staff-child conflict moderates the association between shyness and well-being, and between activity and well-being. Moreover, high emotional behavioral support moderates the association between activity and well-being. Extra attention should be paid by the staff to these children's needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The promotion of children's development and well-being is a core concept in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) quality frameworks. Yet, few validated instruments measuring young children's well-being exist. This study examined the validity of The Leiden Inventory for the Child's Well-being in Daycare (LICW-D) (De Schipper et al., 2004b) in a sample of toddlers (n = 1,472) attending ECEC centers in Norway, using confirmatory factor analysis. Factorial invariance across gender and concurrent validity were also investigated. Indicators of concurrent validity were problem behaviors and difficult temperament, as rated by professional caregivers. Results showed a marginally acceptable fit for the hypothesized one-factor model, when allowing the measurement error of four item pairs to be correlated. This slightly modified model showed satisfactory concurrent validity, and factorial invariance across gender was confirmed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Children who experience well-being are engaging more confidently and positively with their caregiver(s) and peers, which helps them to profit more from available learning opportunities and support current and later life outcomes. The goodness-of-fit theory suggests that children’s well-being might be a result of the interplay between their temperament and the environment. However, there is a lack of studies that examined the association between children’s temperament and well-being in early childhood education and care (ECEC), and whether this association is affected by ECEC process quality. Using a multilevel random coefficient approach, this study examines the association between toddlers’ (N = 1,561) temperament (shyness, emotionality, sociability, and activity) and well-being in Norwegian ECEC and investigates whether process quality moderates this association. Results reveal an association between temperament and well-being. Staff-child conflict moderates the association between shyness and well-being, and between activity and well-being. Moreover, high emotional behavioral support moderates the association between activity and well-being. Extra attention should be paid by the staff to these children’s needs.

The promotion of children’s development and well-being is a core concept in Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) quality frameworks. Yet, few validated instruments measuring young children’s well-being exist. This study examined the validity of The Leiden Inventory for the Child’s Well-being in Daycare (LICW-D) (De Schipper et al., 2004b) in a sample of toddlers (n = 1,472) attending ECEC centers in Norway, using confirmatory factor analysis. Factorial invariance across gender and concurrent validity were also investigated. Indicators of concurrent validity were problem behaviors and difficult temperament, as rated by professional caregivers. Results showed a marginally acceptable fit for the hypothesized one-factor model, when allowing the measurement error of four item pairs to be correlated. This slightly modified model showed satisfactory concurrent validity, and factorial invariance across gender was confirmed.

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This comparative study investigated how early childhood education and care practitioners in South Korea and Norway perceive the concept of children's well-being and their own roles in supporting and facilitating children's well-being. Data were collected through online questionnaires from 198 practitioners and analysed utilising chi-square analyses. The results showed that South Korean practitioners perceived the cognitive and economic domains as more important than Norwegian practitioners. Meanwhile, the practitioners from Norway perceived the social domain as more important than South Korean practitioners. Norwegian practitioners perceived physical needs, need for affection, and enjoyment as more important than Korean practitioners. Norwegian practitioners also monitored every child's well-being and more actively encouraged positive interactions and child-initiated activities. Meanwhile, Korean practitioners perceived the need for safety as important and believed that environments were not safe enough for children's health and well-being. These findings suggest that the educational approaches and sociocultural contexts of the two countries influence children's well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to correct inequalities between men and women and guarantee the freedom to choose life equally regardless of individual attributes. This study focuses on Norway, which is regarded as a gender equal society. Norway has changed from a conservative society with a strong sense of division of labor between men and women to one where men and women are treated equally. The purpose of this study is to clarify the changes in Norwegian childcare policy towards gender equality by focusing on early childhood curriculum in the country. Through this research, we will be able to clarify the meaning of promoting gender equality in childcare in early childhood, and to obtain suggestions for Japan. Using early childhood curriculum (Rammeplan for barnehagens innloud og oppgaver), the way of promoting gender equality among children in ECEC is examined. In Norway, the first Act about ECEC was enacted in 1975, which unified kindergarten and nursery as ECEC (barnehage). The Norwegian ECEC Law (barnehageloven), and government political papers about ECEC were also examined. In addition, the ministries and agencies in charge, the government, the enrollment rate for ECEC, and the ratio of female lawmakers in the parliament were also examined to confirm the social background. As a result, two things became clear. First, gender equality in ECEC has been divided into three stages according to time, and has been promoted step by step. The three stages are as follows: (1) Stage 1: transformation from a male-centered society to a gender-equal society (1975-1994); (2) Stage 2: improvement in the quality of childcare and gender equality (1995-2009); and (3) Stage 3: realization of an equal society that respects diversity (2010-2017). At Stage1, the goal was to increase the number of ECEC to increase in female employment. At Stage 2, attention was focused on the "quality" of childcare. Gender equality among children at ECEC was also regarded as one of the "quality" of childcare. At Stage3, during this period, not only gender equality but also the elimination of all forms of discrimination and respect for diversity were pursued. It was also aimed at ensuring that children experience an equal society in ECEC. Second, in Norway, ECEC has a significant role in providing care and education for children, and also is thought that it has the potential to influence social change. In other words, politics influenced childcare policy. Thus, the conclusion is that emphasis on early childhood education before children developed stereotypes about gender actively promoted gender equality. Further research will examine the realities and changes in gender equality among childcare workers at ECEC. It is also necessary to examine whether there are conflicts between gender equality and respect for diversity in the immigrant Norwegian society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Artikkelen sammenstiller og drøfter forskning på spenningen mellom institusjonelt mangfold blant eiere av norske barnehager, og myndighetenes ambisjoner om å gi et likeverdig barnehagetilbud til alle barn. Med basis i 14 forskningsartikler og rapporter fra perioden 2004-2017 finner jeg at private eiere av barnehager har stort handlingsrom og påvirkningskraft i barnehagesektoren. Både lovregulering og institusjonaliserte normer for et godt barnehagetilbud bidrar til at en ser små forskjeller etter eierskap. Disse normene utvikles og vedlikeholdes i nettverk som inkluderer private barnehager. Det har vært lite forskning på disse nettverkene og på de mykere styringsformene i sektoren. Det er spesielt behov for mer kunnskap om hvordan kommunene som forvaltningsorganisasjoner håndterer møtet med større og mer profesjonelle private barnehageeiere. This article reviews research on the tension between institutionally diverse owners of Norwegian early childhood centers/kindergartens and the governments ambitions of providing an equitable, high-quality service to all children. Based on 14 research articles and reports published between 2004 and 2017 I find that private owners of early childhood centers have considerable influence in the Norwegian ECEC-sector. Both legislation and institutionalized norms of what constitutes a good ECEC-service contribute to small differences according to ownership. These norms are developed and maintained in networks including also private early childhood centers. Few researchers have taken interest in the networks and other soft forms of governance in the Norwegian ECEC-sector. We need more knowledge on how the municipalities interact with large, professional private ECEC-owners.