Understanding Early Childhood: Issues and Controversies

Auteur

Helen Penn is Professor of Early Childhood at the University of East London. She is the Research Leader for the School of Education and Director of Studies for the early childhood PhD programme, and teaches on the MA in Early Childhood as well as supervising PhD and research students. Helen has had a varied background working as an infant teacher, as a day-care campaigner, and as the UK's first director of integrated children's services in Strathclyde in Scotland.

Her research was initially concerned with UK policy and practice in early years and she still undertakes some local policy work, but has become especially interested in comparative policy work, mostly in the South (developing countries) especially in central Asia and Southern Africa. She is also interested in evidence based policy and practice and have led the early years review group at EPPI (evidence based policy and practice initiative) funded by DfES. She undertakes consultancies for a number of international agencies on evaluating and costing systems of early education and care, both in the North (developed world) and in the South, including Unicef and Save the Children. Most recently, Helen was a rapporteur for the OECD study on early education and care in Canada, and led a workshop for the South African Department of Education on inter-agency support for young children with HIV/AIDS.

In addition to her Open University Press title, Helen has also published "Unequal Childhoods: Young Children's Lives in Poor Countries" for Routledge, exploring the upbringing and circumstances of young children in the South, plus many chapters in books and articles in professional magazines and journals

Texte du rabat

Understanding Early Childhood is a comprehensive textbook which offers broad and insightful perspectives across a range of themes on the ways in which we understand and study young children. Engaging and clear, it provides students with a user-friendly introduction to a number of difficult concepts and theories in early childhood education, drawing on research evidence from various countries and taking an interdisciplinary approach.Revised and updated throughout, the third edition brings contemporary theories and debates bang up-to-date in a concise, accessible and yet reflective style. Unique features include:

• A substantial and critically informed discussion of child development
• An updated overview of theoretical approaches and research methodologies
• Considerable revisions on neuroscience and genetic research in light of recent developments
• Extended coverage of ethics
• The challenges and problematic nature of interdisciplinary working
• 'Main Messages' provide helpful summaries of key points

• 'What to Read Next' signposts stimulating reading Understanding Early Childhood is an indispensable resource for early childhood students from undergraduate to postgraduate level, and practitioners working with young children. "Understanding Early Childhood draws on Helen Penn's deep knowledge and exceptionally wide breadth of experience of this topic. This new and updated edition with its pithy explanations provides an invaluable and readable guide to concepts and theories of early childhood education." Bronwen J. Cohen, School of Social and Political Studies, The University of Edinburgh, UK

  "This updated and revised third edition is informative and thought provoking appealing to an international readership. Drawing from many fields of study and with reference to her own international experience and research, Professor Penn challenges existing normative conceptualisations of childhood and professional practice, standards and expectations." Theodora Papatheodorou, Education Adviser - Early Childhood Care and Development, Save the Children, UK

"This book is a must read for anyone studying or working in early childhood education. The messages are applicable and have resonance across borders and boundaries, majority and minority worlds, and ethnicities." Sue Grieshaber, Chair Professor and Head, Department of Early Childhood Education, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong

"Whatever your interest in early childhood, this book should become a wise companion to whom you turn again and again for inspiration, intellectual challenge or solace. I've really enjoyed reading the new edition of Helen's book. She is such a superb author and scholar and we are incredibly fortunate to have her working in the field of early childhood."

Dr Sacha Powell, Reader in Early Childhood, Research Centre for Children, Families and Communities, Canterbury Christ Church University, UK

Résumé
Understanding Early Childhood is an introductory text for students on early years courses which offers broad and insightful perspectives across a range of themes on the ways in which we understand and study young children.

Contenu

Preface*Remembering childhood
Researching reality
Not Piaget again
Genes, neurons and ancestors
On the other side of the world
Past, present and future
Children's rights and the ethics of childhood
What it costs and what it's worth: the economics of early childhood
Practice makes no difference
An interdisciplinary approach?*References
Index