Nordic Early Childhood Education: Parent-Preschool Partnership

• In Event: Crown Plaza Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: Family Partnership in Early Childhood

Abstract

This study examines the meaning-making of parents in five Icelandic preschools concerning the collaboration between preschools and families. The perspectives of educators on the views of the parents were also sought. The theoretical background was Moss’s ideas of democratic early childhood education and MacNaughton’s ideas of power relationships. Data were gathered in two steps: first, focus-group interviews were conducted with parents; and second, focus group interviews were conducted with a group of preschool educators who reflected upon the parent interviews. The two groups seemed to have similar experiences and views of the parent-professional collaboration, and of the division of power and knowledge between them. The parents from other cultures who participated in the study were in a marginalized position.

Authors

• Johanna Einarsdottir, University of Iceland

• Arna H Jónsdóttir, University of Iceland