ABSTRACT

The first volume in this Early Childhood Education and Care in the 21st Century: International Teaching, Family and Policy Perspectives miniseries provides a snapshot of early childhood education and care from 19 different countries around the world. The intention is to provide a description for the policy and provision for young children and their families in each of the unique contemporary contexts. The selection of countries includes every continent in the world to provide variety across cultures, socio-economic status, location, population and other unique factors. Some chapters also share the development and history of early childhood in their country, including economic and political transitions that lead to changes in early childhood provision and policy. The book provides essential takeaways for early childhood educators, researchers, early childhood organisations, policy makers and those interested to know more about early childhood education within an international perspective.

chapter 2|14 pages

Early childhood education and care in Australia

A historical and current perspective for a way forward

chapter 3|14 pages

Early childhood education and care in Canada

Consistently inconsistent childcare policy

chapter 4|8 pages

Early childhood education and care in Chile

An overview of preschool education

chapter 5|12 pages

Early childhood education and care in Denmark

The contested issue of quality in children’s everyday lives

chapter 6|10 pages

Early childhood education and care in Estonia

The organisation and reforms of preschool education

chapter 7|12 pages

Early childhood education and care in Finland

Compassion in narrations of early childhood education student teachers

chapter 8|14 pages

Early childhood education and care in Germany

Policy, key data, quality and pedagogical approach

chapter 9|13 pages

Early childhood education and care in Greece

Looking back and moving forward

chapter 10|11 pages

Early childhood education and care in Iceland

The origin, influences, curriculum reforms and possible paths

chapter 11|13 pages

Early childhood education and care in Korea

History, current trends and future challenges

chapter 13|11 pages

Early childhood education and care in Norway

Cultural historical context, new regulations and perceived quality

chapter 14|9 pages

Early childhood education and care in Russia

Different contexts of the cultural-historical theory

chapter 15|12 pages

Early childhood education and care in Serbia

Current challenges and policies

chapter 16|14 pages

Early childhood education and care in Singapore

Aspiring for holistic early learning

chapter 17|13 pages

Early childhood education and care in Sweden

The context of Swedish preschool

chapter 18|11 pages

Early childhood education and care in Taiwan

The path to achieving high quality

chapter 19|13 pages

Early childhood education and care in the Netherlands

A shift towards an integrated system aimed at enhancing children’s development and learning