EXPECT - Exploring Practices in Early Childhood of Tomorrow: Develop resilience in social sustainable childhoods after COVID-19.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had widespread and long-lasting effects on communities worldwide, including education systems. Preschool children have been affected in unique ways, and understanding these effects is crucial to prepare preschools for future pandemics and crises. The EXPECT project aims to investigate and strengthen social sustainability and resilience in Nordic preschools by analyzing the social, educational and psychological conditions that children faced during the pandemic.

Study Rationale

The aim of the EXPECT project is to deepen the knowledge of how the Covid-19 pandemic has affected preschool children's well-being, participation and social relations. By investigating these aspects, the project aims to develop guidelines and recommendations that can help ensure social sustainability and resilience of preschool settings in future pandemics. The project is particularly relevant for the Nordic countries, where the preschool system plays a central role in promoting equality and well-being for all children.


Materials and methodology

The EXPECT project uses a sequential mixed-methods design to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. This approach allows for an in-depth analysis of the impact of the pandemic on preschool children and their environment.
The project consists of four Work Packages:

WP1: Scoping Review

  • Focus: Create a knowledge base on critical aspects and success factors related to preschool activities during Covid-19.
  • Method: Systematic scoping review based on preschool practices in the Nordic countries during the pandemic.
  • Coordinator: Jaana Juutinen (Oulu University).

WP2: Focus Group Interviews

  • Focus: Parents', educators' and ECE leaders' experiences of preschool practices and children's well-being during Covid-19.
  • Method: Thematic research analysis of recorded conversations from focus groups and interviews.
  • Coordinator: Johanna Einarsdottir (University of Iceland)

WP3: Survey

  • Focus: Online surveys distributed to preschools and parents with children aged 3-6 years who attended preschool during the pandemic.
  • Methodology: Descriptive statistics to compare responses within countries and identify areas related to environmental and participation differences during and after Covid-19.
  • Coordinator: Lilly Augustine (Jönköping University).

WP4: Synthesis of Results

  • Focus: Creating a cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary picture to ensure resilience in social sustainability in early childhood education in future pandemics.
  • Method: Thematic research analysis involving all researchers and a sample of informants from WP2.
  • Data: Results from WP1, WP2 and WP3.
  • Coordinator: Anette Emilson (Kristianstad University).

Project duration:
November 2023 - December 2026

Funder:
Nordforsk, www.nordforsk.org/sv

Main Project leaders:
Project leader: Ole Henrik Hansen, HLK, Jönköping University, olehenrik.hansen@ju.se

Jönköping University
Lilly Augustine, HLK, Jönköping University, lilly.augustine@ju.se
Frida Åström, HHJ, Jönköping University, frida.astrom@ju.se

Working partners:

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