ERIC Number: EJ1293451
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2021
Pages: 16
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0300-4430
EISSN: N/A
Australian Early Childhood Educators and Infant Feeding: A Qualitative Analysis Using Social Cognitive Theory
Early Child Development and Care, v191 n5 p773-788 2021
Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services are vital in the establishment of optimal infant and young child feeding (IYCF) practices and long-term health. This qualitative study, informed by Social Cognitive Theory, aimed to describe ECEC infant feeding environments. Nineteen formal long day care and family day care ECEC services and 124 educators in metropolitan and regional Queensland, Australia participated in interviews and professional conversations. Inductive and deductive analysis identified three key themes: 'agency', 'IYCF environment', and 'monitoring/surveillance'. This research has identified the key environmental, behavioural and cognitive factors that contribute to optimal IYCF practices in Australian ECEC. Tensions and negotiation between educators, parents, infants and the regulatory framework operate to develop collective agency. Key recommendations are: (1) increasing the visibility of infants in ECEC policy frameworks; and (2) building educator and parent self-efficacy in supporting infant agency in order to meet shared goals related to optimal infant health and well-being.
Descriptors: Social Cognition, Early Childhood Education, Child Care, Infants, Well Being, Child Health, Family Environment, Preschool Teachers, Teacher Attitudes, Foreign Countries, Parent Teacher Cooperation, Self Efficacy, Nutrition, Educational Policy, Parent Child Relationship, Teacher Student Relationship, Leadership, Barriers, Food, Legislation, Risk Management
Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education; Preschool Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A