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Abstract: Numerous studies have evidenced the relationship between musical rhythm and language performances, derived from temporal acoustic signal processing. This relationship might be affected by different language experiences. Receptive and expressive vocabulary knowledge, phonological awareness, and musical rhythm perception and production were examined in Chinese-speaking (n = 112) and English-speaking preschoolers (n = 73), by using standardized or self-designed linguistic assessments, and musical rhythm discrimination and tapping tests. Generally,results evidenced a cross-language association between musical rhythm performance and vocabulary knowledge in preschoolers. Significant associations were found between receptive vocabulary knowledge and musical rhythm perception as well as production skills in Chinese-speaking pre-schoolers; while Chinese expressive vocabulary knowledge was only associated with musical rhythm production but not perception. As for the English-speaking fellows, both receptive and expressive vocabulary knowledge showed significant association with musical rhythm perception and production skills. Additionally, hierarchical regression analyses were implemented to explore the contribution of phonological awareness and musical rhythm performance towards vocabulary knowledge. Results exhibited that musical rhythm production skills effectively predicted the expressive vocabulary knowledge in Chinese-speaking preschoolers, whilst musical rhythm perception skills predicted the receptive vocabulary knowledge in English-speaking fellows. To note, none of any musical rhythm significantly predicted Chinese receptive vocabulary knowledge and English expressive vocabulary knowledge, suggesting a possible mediation role of phonological awareness to rhythm-vocabulary relationship. Our findings provide cross-language evidence for the robustness of the rhythm-language relationship and possible predictive effect between musical rhythm and specific vocabulary knowledge. PubDate: 2023-04-19
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Abstract: Performance-based tools to assess school readiness domains such as Approaches to Learning are lacking in Low and Middle-Income Countries such as Kenya. This study aims to develop the Kenyan version of the FOCUS app (Finding Out Children's Unique Strengths), a game-like computer tablet assessment of two Approaches to Learning domains: mastery motivation and executive functions. We used a design-based research approach to develop and validate the FOCUS app, initially designed for the US and Hungarian Cultures, to suit the Kenyan context. We later followed children longitudinally from preschool to grade 1, to assess the applicability of the FOCUS app to the two grade levels. Results showed that the FOCUS app is valid and reliable. There was no significant difference in mastery motivation between the two waves. The FOCUS App can complement other school readiness tools to assess Approaches to Learning as one of the strategies to enhance school and life success. PubDate: 2023-04-01
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Abstract: The aim of this pilot study was to examine the immediate and long-term effects of an intervention program that aims to improve preschoolers’ (N = 36, M = 4.49 years, SD = 0.35) early numeracy skills by combining the learning of numerical relational skills via story reading with fundamental motor skill practice. The intervention program was piloted with two study designs: a within-subject repeated-measures design with 18 children (study I), and a quasi-experimental study design with 18 children (study II). Children’s early numeracy, symbolic magnitude processing, and fundamental motor skills were measured. Results demonstrated that children’s early numeracy and especially numerical relational skills improved during the intervention, and the intervention had larger effects on children’s early numeracy and numerical relational skills compared to the control period (study I) and control group (study II). Furthermore, the results from the delayed post-test demonstrated that the effects were maintained for 4.5–8 weeks after the intervention. These findings provide preliminary evidence that it is possible to support children’s early numeracy skills with combined learning of numerical relational skills via story reading and fundamental motor skills despite the socioeconomic or language background, and narrow the gap between low- and average-performing children. PubDate: 2023-04-01
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Abstract: Fundamental movement skills (FMS)-oriented school-based intervention allows children to be more competent and interested to participate in a wider range of physical activities. This study aimed to determine the physical activity and fundamental motor skills outcome from a school-based intervention programme among rural pre-schoolers in Kuching. It used a quasi-experimental non-randomised design with a total of 153 children from 9 government kindergartens. For physical activity level, there was a significant difference between the intervention and control group at the 3 months, F (1, 151) = 3.90, p = 0.05, with a ŋ2 = 0.025 and 6 months-time duration, F (1, 151) = 55.70, p < 0.001, with a ŋ2 = 0.27. The same pattern of interaction effect (time * group) was also found in gross motor skill, F (2, 150) = 80.9, p < 0.001, ŋ2 = 0.52, where the mean score in intervention group was greater than in control group. It is important to understand in depth each of the skills components involved in locomotor and object control and also its differences between the boys and girls, as it can help in planning of the module of an intervention programme. Object control skills have higher predictive value in engaging in wider range of PA which could be the possible reason why boys are more active than girls. PubDate: 2023-04-01
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Abstract: Play, and especially free play, offers a unique opportunity for children to act with agency. Yet the regulated and routinized structure of early childhood education and care settings, impedes children’s agentic action which is limited by adult-imposed rules. The present cross-cultural study aims to explore the extent to which Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) systems in seven countries are enabling children to be agentic and provide opportunities for children’s agency development during play. Specifically, founded on the rationale that in the context of an ECEC setting the notion of agency is interconnected with the notion of freedom, the present study aims at exploring through the responses of 187 early childhood educators’ from seven countries, children’s prerogative to choose how, where and with whom to play, which resources to use in their play, how much time to spend on play and the extent to which adults’ rules limit children’s opportunities to exercise agency and control. In addition, the study aims at exploring if and how educators’ and children’s characteristics affect the opportunities for agentic action. Results highlight that although children’s autonomy and their right to participate in shaping their experiences in the ECEC setting are valued and acknowledged across countries, their agentic action is not equally supported in all seven countries. Specifically, although ECEC systems in some of the countries are characterized by an ethos of agency, in the majority of them children are not viewed as real co-constructors of their play experiences. PubDate: 2023-04-01
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Abstract: The current study presents a rhythmic music program to acquire some motor skills for children with Down syndrome. The research sample was taken from one of the specialized Down syndrome learning centers for children, and the sample was taken in a random manner. The sample of children consisted of 20 boys and girls and divided into experimental and control groups. The researcher also prepared a list of the appropriate motor skills for these children (walking, running, jumping, throwing), in addition to the motor skills scale to determine the effectiveness of the proposed program. The results were statistically analyzed using the analysis of covariance, where pre-test serving as a covariate. The results indicated an improvement in the performance of all motor activities under study for the children of the experimental group compared to the control group, and this confirms the extent of the positive impact of the musical rhythmic program for these children, which affects the children positively in the performance of their motor. PubDate: 2023-04-01
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Abstract: This study investigated play perceptions and practices reported by 298 Hong Kong mothers of children aged two to six. Content analysis was conducted to categorize the views of participating mothers from thirteen kindergartens, with a focus on exploring differences in mothers’ socioeconomic status and their child’s gender. The results showed that working mothers valued play for social skills development more than non-working mothers. Mothers with higher educational qualifications also placed a higher value on play for social skills development and other learning skills. There were variations in mothers’ play practices based on the child’s gender and when the play activities were scheduled during the week. Another variation was found in participating mothers’ preferences when asked about their most liked and wanted play activities with their children. Implications for mother involvement in play and gender-typed play practices are addressed. PubDate: 2023-04-01
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Abstract: Phonological awareness plays a key role in learning to read; therefore, its assessment has received a lot of attention. Research in the domain of phonological awareness has been characterized by attempts to develop reliable and valid assessment tools for diverse populations. Over the past few decades, phonological awareness assessment has gone through a significant evolution. Computer-delivered tests have led to new opportunities. Integrating the new medium into the testing process offers multiple benefits compared to traditional face-to-face and paper-and-pencil methods. Studies on the feasibility, structure and results of online assessments are scarce. The aim of the present study is to explore the possibilities for a technology-based assessment of phonological awareness of Hungarian first language learners (N = 5838) and to develop a reliable and valid online instrument. Results suggest that we have managed to develop a valid, reliable and easy-to-use online phonological awareness test that can be used easily in elementary school classroom settings. The unique results about the multi-dimensional nature of the construct can help rethinking and reconceptualizing phonological assessment in a wide range of languages. Since Hungarian is a language with a high level of orthographic transparency, the results could be generalized to other languages with similar qualities. PubDate: 2023-03-25
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Abstract: Although many studies on early childhood have been conducted, there is still a need for further research on numeracy and vocabulary skills, particularly in Indonesia. This research aims to confirm the correlation between numeracy and vocabulary skills in preschool children and to disentangle the effects of environmental factors on both numeracy and vocabulary skills. This research was conducted at Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the Jatinangor district and followed the principle of simple random sampling. Children were given numeracy and vocabulary tests, parents were asked to fill out a questionnaire about sociodemographic aspects and the learning environment in their homes, and teachers were asked to fill out a questionnaire about preschool activities concerning numeracy and vocabulary. Data were analyzed using a structural equation model with numeracy and vocabulary as outcome variables. Covariates such as age, gender and social status were also included in the model. The results of this study show that numeracy is closely linked to vocabulary skills and that only a specific preschool activity can explain the variance of numeracy. On the other hand, both home numeracy activities and a specific preschool literacy activity are significant predictors of vocabulary skills. PubDate: 2023-03-20
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Abstract: This paper analyzes the risks to child development and school readiness among children under age 6 in Pakistan. Drawing on a nationally representative telephone survey conducted in the midst of a global pandemic, between December 2021 and February 2022, we present the first nationally representative estimates of child development for children under 3 years of age and school readiness for children 3–6 years of age, using internationally validated instruments. The paper examines how risk factors that were exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as parental distress, lack of psychosocial stimulation, food insecurity, low maternal education, no enrollment in early childhood education, and living in a rural area, are associated with children’s outcomes. The data indicate that more than half (57 percent) of parents with children under age 3 were distressed and that 61 percent of households reported cutting down on the size of or skipping meals since the start of the pandemic. The data reveal that over half of parents fail to engage in adequate psychosocial stimulation with their child and enrollment in early childhood education is very low (39 percent). The paper finds that child development outcomes decline rapidly as the number of risks increase. Specifically, for children under 3 years, lack of psychosocial stimulation at home and higher levels of parental distress were most significantly associated with lower child development levels. For a child aged 3–6 years, early childhood education enrollment and the amount of psychosocial stimulation the child received at home had the strongest association with school readiness scores. PubDate: 2023-03-08 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00353-2
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Abstract: Learning foreign languages is a powerful resource for a modern person to build successful life prospects. English is currently the leading communicative means of interaction in the world community. Undoubtedly, the basics of language literacy and orientation in the foreign cultural environment of native speakers of the studied language are laid at the early stages of ontogenesis. The most sensitive period for the most effective stimulation of the cognitive sphere and the development of stable motivation to master foreign languages is the younger school age. For that reason, research in the field of psychological and pedagogical foundations of the development of speech skills of primary school students in English lessons is one of the most relevant areas of modern science. The purpose of the study is a theoretical analysis of scientific data concerning the psychological and pedagogical foundations of the development of speech skills of primary school students in English lessons. The study involves general scientific and special methods of theoretical analysis of the problem of psychological and pedagogical foundations of the development of speech skills of primary school students in English lessons. Furthermore, the study offers main scientific conclusions concerning the psychological and pedagogical analysis of the problem of the psychological and pedagogical foundations of the development of speech skills in primary school students in English lessons. The data presented in the study allow expanding the scientific vision of the problem of psychological and pedagogical support of primary school students in mastering their speech skills of the English language. PubDate: 2023-02-28 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00354-1
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Abstract: Parental involvement with children is crucial for children’s school readiness. The inequality in Early Childhood Education (ECE) results in an intellectual divide among children aged 3–5 in Bangladesh. Additionally, cognitive and non-cognitive development significantly contributes to school readiness. This case study research gathered information from 68 parents, 25 supply-side stakeholders, and classroom and school observations to comprehend the current state of school readiness of children in Bangladesh. This research finds that private tutoring has become a popular approach to preparing children for school because parents are less involved with their children. The insufficient preparation for ECE instructors and the infrequent contact between parents and teachers increase parental ignorance of their child’s school readiness. The research highlights some significant elements of the settings of ECE which needs to be advanced and recreated that are favorable to the development of young children, such as learning materials, the surroundings, the curriculum, and peer interactions. PubDate: 2023-02-28 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00352-3
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Abstract: Despite initiatives by key actors in the last two decades, Early Childhood Development in Ghana, measured by physical, cognitive, linguistic, and social–emotional development of children up to 8 years of age, remains poor. This study aimed to assess Ghana’s Early Childhood Development (ECD) status and determinants by analyzing the Ghana Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2017/18 data. Among the 3801 Ghanaian children (35–59 months; 1880 males), 42.7% were developmentally on track in literacy–numeracy, 93.6% in physical, 68.2% in social–emotional, 82.3% in learning, and about 67% in at least 3 of the 4 domains. Multiple logistic regression analyses suggest a positive association between ECD and female sex of children, their age, mothers' attendance in any ECD programs, mothers' educational qualification, and household wealth. On the other hand, evidence of a negative association was observed between ECD and child disability, stunting status of children, maternal disability, the number of days children were left alone for more than an hour, and residence in a rural area. The level of maternal education may be implicated in ECD policies as it affected several ECD domains. PubDate: 2023-02-28 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00349-y
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Abstract: Proprioceptive kinaesthetic control underpins motor movements of developing children and can be influenced by several factors. The main aim of this study was to establish proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences in six-year-olds from different school quintiles, of different genders, and with different handedness. A total of 193 six-year-olds from 10 schools of different quintiles in the Motheo District, Mangaung, were included, of which 97 (50.3%) were boys and 96 (49.7%) were girls. A quantitative cross-sectional study design was followed to determine proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences. Right-handed participants performed significantly better than left-handed participants in the Finger-to-Nose task (p = 0.0125) when moving and positioning their dominant arm and hand. When using their dominant arm, significant differences in the shoulder-level-arm-raise (p = 0.0288) favoured boys. Girls showed superior execution of the force perception task (p = 0.0322). In conclusion, significant proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences in six-year-olds were mainly not evident. Future work should explore proprioceptive kinaesthetic coordination differences in children of other ages and determine the practical implications of identified differences. PubDate: 2023-02-18 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00350-5
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Abstract: This phenomenological study examines teachers’ self-reported practices related to the learning centers in classrooms that were recommended by the 2013 Turkish Preschool Curriculum and the conditions of such centers. Data from 38 female and six male preschool teachers were collected through a semi-structured interview protocol and an observation form developed by the researchers. This revealed that there were learning centers in nearly all classrooms, and most of the participants stated that their classrooms included block play, dramatic play, book and science areas. Approximately half of the sampled teachers regarded the quantity of learning centers in their classrooms as sufficient, whereas two-third of participants suggested that content of the centers were not. It was also observed that there were a variety of materials in each center, but some were in need of repair. PubDate: 2023-02-14 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00351-4
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Abstract: The use of natural and non-natural play materials in early childhood education is a critical facilitator to children’s learning and development. Different materials vary in their affordances for sophisticated play, imagination, and creativity, which contribute to children’s complex thinking; with the current focus on technology, it has been suggested to balance its use with other materials. While childhood experiences with nature carry numerous benefits for development and complex thinking, most of the natural affordances have been documented in outdoor settings or with nature-based pedagogical approaches. The purpose, here, is to gain a better understanding of natural and non-natural material use across matched activities and approaches, in their affordances for preschool children’s complex thinking during quality play. Using a cultural-historical interpretivist analysis of children’s playful work and comments, findings indicated that both material types contributed to complex thinking, imagination, and creativity, but deeper connections and wider variety arose with natural materials. Findings suggest that teachers increase their use of natural materials in teaching, to help children develop deeper conceptual understandings and representations of their world. PubDate: 2023-01-18 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00348-z
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Abstract: Quality early childhood care and education (ECCE) is important for young children’s holistic healthy development. As ECCE scales, contextually relevant and feasible measurement is needed to inform policy and programs on strengths and areas for improvement. However, few measures have been designed for use across diverse contexts. Drawing on principles of mixed methods design, this study reports on a new approach to ECCE quality measurement: the Brief Early Childhood Quality Inventory. Using data from the USA, Liberia, and Colombia, results indicate variation in the items perceived as highly relevant to each setting and in the characteristics of classrooms including the degree of child autonomy, the types of activities, and in child/educator interactions and dialogue. However, despite this variation, a small set of items indicate potential functionality as cross-country anchor items. Findings lend support to the idea that quality measures can have some common elements with room for adaptation within and across settings. Future work in this area should address the possibility that the significance of these practices for child development also varies across settings. PubDate: 2023-01-14 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-022-00344-9
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Abstract: This study investigated the effects of labels on preschool teachers’ attitudes (i.e. openness) towards the strengths and difficulties of autistic preschool students in the mainstream setting. It also examined the differential effect of disclosure of a specific or a generic label, and the teacher-related factors influencing their attitude. Sample consisted of 106 mainstream preschool teachers (mean age = 30.37 years, SD = 8.85) from Singapore randomly assigned to one of three groups: “Autism Spectrum Disorder Label”, “Special Needs Label”, or the “No Label” group. Participants read a total of 15 vignettes depicting characteristics of autistic preschool students as strengths, difficulties, and neutral behaviours. They then rated their openness towards the featured student and complete a measure of their autism knowledge. Results indicated that the disclosure of a student’s special needs label improved teachers’ attitudes towards the difficulties faced by autistic students compared to when no label was disclosed. Teachers’ knowledge of autism and whether teachers had experience teaching autistic students predicted the openness rating. This study has implications for parents regarding diagnosis disclosure, for the whole educational system when designing diagnosis and information transfer and the importance of professional training among early childhood educators. PubDate: 2023-01-12 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-023-00347-0
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Abstract: Using a drawing-based research approach, this qualitative study explored in-service infant teachers' reflections on their play experiences and ways of supporting and scaffolding infants' play at a childcare center in Korea. The participants engaged in a drawing task that illustrated their reflections and memories of their play. They then discussed their drawings by, answering semi-structured interview questions. An analysis of the images and comments depicted in the activity and shared in the interview revealed that participants recalled social and imaginative childhood play memories using natural objects and playing childhood games outdoors. Everyday activities were also regarded as play among the participants, and play activities changed depending on interests, personality, age, and societal situation, such as the Coronavirus pandemic. The findings revealed that infant teachers’ interests and preferences influenced their decisions to structure and scaffold or discourage certain play activities in the classroom. Through play, both infants and infant teachers shared positive affect and playfulness. This study suggests a crucial need for early childhood professionals to self-reflect to understand their preferences and play experiences, contemplate how their preferences and experiences impact their teaching practice, and meaningfully integrate play activities in their classrooms. PubDate: 2023-01-03 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-022-00346-7
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Abstract: This study examines the quantity and quality of child-directed speech across household activities in a socioeconomically diverse sample of Argentinian Spanish-speaking children, an understudied population. Thirty children (mean: 14.3 months) and their families were audio-recorded for four hours. The middle two hours were transcribed and analysed using computerised language analysis (CLAN) to: (a) calculate lexical quantity (tokens) lexical diversity (VOCD) and syntactic complexity (MLU); (b) identify nouns and verbs. The procedures also involve the coding of regulative versus referential utterances and ongoing activities with defined spatial and temporal boundaries —feeding, play, booksharing, grooming and household chores— as well as calculating the proportion of 21 types of concrete nouns and action verbs. Regression analysis showed effects of SES and type of activity on: (a) the quantity, lexical diversity and syntactic complexity of child-directed speech; (b) the proportion of referential and regulative utterances addressed to the child; (c) certain degree of semantic regularity in word-activity associations; and (d) an effect of SES on a variety of nouns and verbs (e.g. toys; utensils). These results highlight qualitative differences in input across daily activities and the contribution of SES to variance in lexical diversity and word semantics. Results provide evidence needed to inform public policies responsible for the promotion of early childhood language development and education. PubDate: 2022-12-29 DOI: 10.1007/s13158-022-00345-8
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