Diversity in the Early Years

New global contexts are presenting new challenges and new possibilities for young children and those around them. Climate change, armed conflict and poverty combine with new frontiers of discovery in science and technology to create a paradoxical picture of both threat and opportunity for our world and our children. On the one hand, children are experiencing unprecedented patterns of disparity and inequity; yet, on the other hand, they have seemingly limitless possibilities to engage with new technologies and social processes. Seismic shifts such as these are inviting new questions about the conditions that young children need to learn and thrive. Diversity in the Early Years: Intercultural Learning and Teaching explores significant aspects of working with children and adults from diverse backgrounds. It is a valuable resource for teaching early childhood pre-service teachers to raise awareness about issues of diversity - whether diversity of culture, language, education and/or gender - and for helping them to develop their own pedagogical approaches to working with diverse populations.Key FeaturesComplements the many government programs and initiatives to support the education and care of young children and their families from a broad range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds in Australian society. The bigger picture of the European contexts offers teacher education students access to multiple perspectives.Showcases international research collaborations and addresses theoretical perspectives on working internationally Blends discussion of theory and applications in terms of ‘why’ and ‘how to’ so that readers can take what they’ve learned into real world contexts.Readers are encouraged to think critically and reflectively by engaging with the end of chapter questions

Ann Farrell is Professor of Early Childhood and Head of the School of Early Childhood. Earning a PhD from The University of Queensland in 1996, she received an Honorary Doctorate from Gothenburg University (Sweden) in 2012. Member of QUTs Children and Youth Research Centre, her research and teaching expertise is in research ethics, childrens rights to protection and participation, childhood and families studies, and children in the legal and criminal justice systems.Ingrid Pramling Samuelsson is Professor and coordinator for early childhood education at the Department of Education, Göteborg University, Sweden. Her research mainly deals with how children create meaning and make sense of different aspects of the surrounding world, in the context of preschool (day care and kindergarten) and teachers professional development.

Diversity in the Early Years examines young children in global contexts and the affordances of intercultural approaches to diversity and inclusion in early childhood education. This book provides a starting point for developing intercultural understandings, based on respect for diversity and interdependency in the everyday experience. A thread running through the book is the imperative for childrens rights to participation, provision and protection in theface of exponential global change.Each chapter draws upon empirical evidence from research and/or from pedagogical practice that sheds light on intercultural issues in the field of early childhood. These issues include framing intercultural practices in early childhood teacher education; international agendas in early childhood teacher education; and preparing early childhood teachers for global contexts.

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