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ERIC Number: EJ1458175
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1350-293X
EISSN: EISSN-1752-1807
Educators' Perspectives on Parental Belonging in Preschool Communities
Björn Rúnar Egilsson
European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, v33 n1 p96-109 2025
While academic interest in belonging in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings has increased in recent years, the interplay between parental and educators' notions of belonging is under-researched. This article explores preschool educators' experiences of working with families of young children and their perspectives of parental belonging in the preschool community. Nineteen educators from five preschools in different neighborhoods in Reykjavík, Iceland, participated in focus group interviews in the spring of 2023. The findings suggest that preschool educators frame parental belonging in performative terms and base it on communication and interaction in the preschool community. A lack of parental interaction and 'disinterest' was identified as the main challenge with indications of it having negative effects on the educators' own performativity of belonging. However, the educators reported reaching far beyond their job descriptions to provide cultural brokerage to parents of foreign backgrounds, to assist them in navigating the welfare system, and to facilitate wider social engagement. The findings have implications for preschool educators' expectations towards their engagement with parents of young children.
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: Iceland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A