Early Childhood Research from a Global Perspective

        Reviewing international research topics found on the European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) and the Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) websites I discovered that many of the research topics are similar to those in the United States.  Topics of research involve practices of parenting, school readiness, supporting child well-being, play and physical activity, scaffolding, language, gender roles, and diversity.  Research topics that differ from those typical to the United States involve indigenous studies that include stories, knowledge, materials, and practices as part of the research.  Other differences I noticed are that research is completed in orphanages, and there is more emphasis on the capacity of children and their ability to fully participate in all aspects of research. 

          I reviewed the (EECERA) website that includes the European Early Childhood Education Research Journal.  This journal is published four times a year.  It is a scholarly journal meant to provide support and information sharing for its partners and readers.  The website highlights the most read and the most cited articles.   The insight I gained is that we can learn much from the work being completed globally with children.  Other countries appear to be more advanced in their attitudes toward working with children, recognizing that children are much more capable than we give them credit in the United States.  Research is more focused on children participating in all aspect of research projects.  There seems to be less emphasis on children with disabilities than in the US, as many of the research projects include both children with and without disabilities; “More able children tend to model behaviour and instruct less able counterparts on aspects of the research. These findings suggest that with support young children with and without a disability can be fully engaged in the research process” (Gray, Winter, 2011).  On the other hand, many African countries appear to be less advanced than the US in regard to child care.   Many research studies in African countries focus on different aspects of support for child care centers. 

          The noteworthy information I found reviewing the different websites related to global research studies are the wealth of information that is shared and the emphasis placed on sharing.  The amount of research conducted and the knowledge gained about child development and the capacity of children beginning at birth is awesome!  It is very encouraging that researchers follow a code of ethics.  Also encouraging is that children are viewed with such respect and that as a global community we are searching for ways to understand the full capacity of children as contributing members of their community.

         

References

Early Childhood Development Virtual University (ECDVU) Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Retrieved from http://www.ecdvu.org/ssa/index.php 

European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA). Retrieved from http://www.eecera.org/

Gray, C., Winter, E. (2011).  Hearing voices: participatory research with preschool children with and without disabilities [Abstract]. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, v. 19, 3. Retrieved from http://www.eecera.org/