Troubled Sleep in ECEC: Exploring Contradictions Underlying Two Finnish Kindergarten Groups’ Sleep Time Practices

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  In Roundtable Session: Research Methodologies and Insights (Table 10)

Abstract

This microethnographic study explores the contradictions underlying sleep practices in early childhood education and care settings from a cultural-historical activity theory perspective. Drawing on interactional analysis of childrens’ and adults’ sleep time conduct in two Finnish kindergarten groups and an analysis of their interviews on sleep time troubles, the study provides a more nuanced and layered picture of the conflicting demands placed on sleep time in ECEC settings than research currently does. Moreover, the study provides insights into how sleep time troubles are managed by the ECEC participants. By focusing on sleep time as an example of basic care activities prevalent in ECEC, the study also diversifies our current lines of research on ECEC, especially from a cultural historical perspective.

Author

• Jaakko Hilppö, University of Helsinki