Supporting Children's Friendship Stability Through Community-Based School in a Culturally Diverse Context

• In Event: Relationship-Based Instruction for Children

Abstract

Children’s ability to establish and maintain meaningful peer relationships is essential in Early Childhood Education. This capacity, known as friendship stability, has important implications in the early years because stable friendships are associated with positive academic results and prosocial behavior. However, research shows that friends made in ECE rarely last during elementary school, and culturally diverse contexts present a more challenging scenario. This case study explores children’s friendship stability in a community-based culturally diverse school. Two discussion groups with children were conducted (n=30, 7-8 years old), and preliminary results were discussed with children and teachers. Results reveal that the dialogic orientation of classroom activities and the school ethos based on a culture of no violence facilitate children’s friendship stability

Authors

• Andrea Khalfaoui, University of Deusto
  Presenting Author

• Rocio Garcia-Carrion, University of Deusto
  Presenting Author

• Carme Garcia Yeste, Universitat Rovira i Virgili
  Non-Presenting Author

• Icy Fresno Anabo, University of Deusto
  Non-Presenting Author