Amplifying Young Voices: A Visual Exploration of Child Agency in a Ghanaian Early Childhood Classroom

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 9:50 am Four Seasons Ballroom 1
  In Roundtable Session: Centering Children's Agency to Uplift Community Knowledge and Solutions (Table 3)

Abstract

This study examines child agency among Ghanaian kindergarteners. Grounded in the Afrocentric Theory of Child Development and Agency, the research investigates how Ghanaian classrooms foster agency and how cultural context shapes its expression. Findings reveal that agency is fostered through participatory classroom practices and is deeply influenced by Ghanaian cultural norms, leading to a collective form of agency where children see themselves as contributors to community well-being. The study highlights the importance of culturally responsive practices in early childhood education, advocating for context-specific approaches that integrate African cultural values. Contributing to child agency in African contexts, this study has implications for educational practices and policies aimed at fostering culturally appropriate development of young learners.

Authors

• Anthony Woode-Eshun, University of South Florida

• Ilene R. Berson, University of South Florida

• Michael J. Berson, University of South Florida