A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
Enhancing Peer Interaction in Early Childhood Special Education: Chains of Children’s Initiatives, Adults’ Responses and Their Consequences in Play
Authors: Syrjämäki M., Pihlaja P., Sajaniemi N.
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Publication year: 2019
Journal: Early Childhood Education Journal
Journal name in source: Early Childhood Education Journal
Volume: 47
Issue: 5
First page : 559
Last page: 570
Number of pages: 12
ISSN: 1082-3301
eISSN: 1573-1707
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10643-019-00952-6
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/40798996
This article focuses on the initiatives taken by children and the responses given by professional adults with regard to the pedagogy of enhancing peer interaction among diverse learners. The study took place in four integrated special groups of public early childhood education. In groups of this kind, typically developing children and those with special educational needs (SEN) spent time together on a daily basis. We analysed 12 videotaped play sessions with 33 (3- to 6-year-old) children and 10 adults to examine the children’s initiatives, the adults’ responses, and the consequences that ensued. The study revealed verbal and nonverbal initiatives followed by a variety of responses scaffolding the children’s interaction and participation. However, the nonverbal or faint initiatives, especially those taken by the children with SEN, were at risk of being unnoticed or ignored. These findings call for professional reflection on pedagogical sensitivity in recognizing and responding to the initiatives of children.
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