Challenging the Discursive Food Pedagogies: Food and Food Practices in Early Childhood Education

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 8:00 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Challenges and Disruptions to Eurocentric Perspectives in Early Childhood (Table 5)

Abstract

The study aims to deconstruct the prevailing white middle-class perspectives on food and food practices in early childhood education. With globalization and urbanization, children have more opportunities to experience diverse cultural foods and eating practices, which allows them to expand their culinary knowledge and preferences. However, food is frequently discussed in binary terms, such as good versus bad, which reinforces power dynamics. Hence, there needs to be more discussion of food and food practices within the early childhood education curriculum. This study explores Asian American children’s experiences and perspectives on food and food practices in both school and home settings through transnational parent research and Suda approach.

Authors

• Jinhee Kim, Kennesaw State University

• Su-Jeong Wee, California State University - Los Angeles

• Sophia Han, University of South Florida

• Sohyun Meacham, University of Northern Iowa