Early childhood educators (ECEs) face several workplace challenges, including young children's difficult behavior and mental health needs, workplace stress, low systemic support, and high levels of burnout. Both education and perceived confidence are often cited as important buffering factors, yet neither is well studied in the existing…

This paper explores initial results from phase one of a research project examining early childhood practitioners' (ECP) perceptions of empathy within their practice. Empathy is widely understood as the ability to understand others' feelings, to see things through other people's eyes, imagining what it would be like to be that person in that…

In preschool settings, ample evidence has long existed that some administrators and educators rely heavily on exclusionary practices to address unwanted behaviors despite evidence they are ineffective. There is a need for evidence-based interventions that provide teachers with skills to foster positive student--teacher relationships, teach…

Research on teachers' professional learning and development (PLD) has investigated the nature and design of such learning initiatives, itemising characteristics that promote high-quality PLD and outcomes for individual teachers. However, much learning for teachers happens as they work together to consider and discuss their ability to implement…

Science concept formation has a long history in early childhood educational research. Most of the studies in the field focus on the way children form science concepts as preschoolers. However, less is known about the nature of science concept formation for children under 3 years of age. This study explores how early childhood teachers create the…

The Early Childhood Commission (ECC) is an agency of the Ministry of Education and Youth in Jamaica responsible for early childhood development. It has been proposed that Early Childhood Practitioners (ECPs) should engage in more child friendly and age-appropriate teaching practices. This is especially critical as they use the Jamaica Early…

This explanatory mixed methods study investigated the role digital literacies play in the collaborative online learning of early childhood educators (ECEs). Through reporting quantitative survey and qualitative interview data, study results describe the attitudes and skills that contribute to ECEs' abilities to fluently use different modes of…

In teacher education, there is a growing need for teachers to become data literate by collecting a variety of data on student learning to assess student progress and inform instruction. Research on pedagogical documentation in education, in particular early childhood education, has been undertaken to make students' learning visible by documenting…

Early childhood (EC) environments that are safe and engaging can positively influence developmental outcomes in children. Indeed, the benefits of a high-quality environment for young children are numerous (Kostelnik et al., 2019). The EC classroom is also the primary workplace of EC teachers and much like the children they serve, they can also…

Curriculum innovation occurs throughout the early childhood education (ECE) sector. This article reports on the results of a survey conducted in Aotearoa New Zealand, during Phase 1 of a two-phase mixed-methods study. The research examines the factors that shape the way teachers use curriculum innovation and seeks to understand how teachers'…

The so-called logic of datafication and platformisation, as a consolidated business model for the BigTech industry with applications to education (van Dijck et al., 2018), can also reach (and affect) early education and care. In a kid's culture that values documenting and sharing with parents, social media and instant messaging are widely used.…

Background: Upon completion of their undergraduate educator preparation program (EPP), early childhood special educators obtain roles within inclusive school settings. As part of these roles, they will participate in collaborative interactions with other educators, related service providers, paraprofessionals, and their students' family members.…

The early childhood workforce in England has experienced periods of policy attention and more recently policy neglect. During the past two decades (2000--2022) the extent of interest in workforce policy has fluctuated with episodes of investment followed by phases of disinvestment. Throughout this period, early childhood educators have been…

The effective implementation of positive behaviour intervention and support (PBIS) requires both organisational and professional change. This means that the whole community including all educators and children commit to shared principles, practices, and structures to create a safe and supportive social climate. In this article, we investigate the…

Background: Early childhood development (ECD) practitioners are essential in governing foundational aspects, such as gross motor development and participation in physical movement. Aim: This study aimed to determine ECD practitioners in Vanderbijlpark's awareness of gross motor milestone acquisition and movement guidelines for children birth to 4…