ABSTRACT
This chapter presents children’s views on what they do and learn in preschool and school, and how changes in practice can arise from children’s voices. Based on interviews with 22 Danish children a few months prior to starting school, children’s views on preschool learning are presented along with their expectations of school and of what they will learn at school. The interviews focused on questions such as: What have you learned at preschool? What do you think about starting school? What will you do at school next year? What will you learn at school next year? The analysis showed, among other things, that, in preschool, children prefer play and creative activities, also stating that they learn to behave correctly and prepare for school. Most of the children looked forward to starting school, although a number of the children did not know what school would be like. According to the children’s expectations about what they would do at school, many think they will play – and have homework. The learning dimension was not very visible. On the other hand, when they were asked “What will you learn at school next year?”, one-third of the children replied that they will learn maths, how to read and how to behave correctly. Another third of the children did not know what they would learn. Follow-up interviews with preschool and school teachers based on the above findings have resulted in changes to the everyday practice at preschools during the year prior to the transition to school, as well as some changes to the transition process itself. The study is part of a larger project with Professor Judith T. Wagner, Wittier College, USA: Children’s and Teachers’ Perceptions of Learning and Play in Preschool and Kindergarten in Denmark and USA.
