Toddler peer interaction in Swedish preschool

• Authors: Elin Michélsen
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Studies of early relations between one and two-year-olds in day care are not very frequent. Even in Sweden where most toddlers attend preschool there are few studies. In this article some results from a toddler peer interaction study in Swedish preschool are presented and analysed. Since the interactions often begin around an active toddler, the animated behavior of the peer is discussed as a social affordance for other toddlers. The interaction mood is most often supportive and interest and joy are the most predominant effects. Joy is mostly expressed in connection with big body movements or when something turns out unexpectedly, with rowdiness or surprise. The interaction process in long lasting sequences is characterized by creativity, common understanding and positive effects, which are considered expressions of the children´s culture. Interactions where toddlers imitate each other, or adapt and coordinate themselves to each other are regarded as peer socialization. Finally, to highlight and theorize the importance of early peer experiences the concept of peer-self is proposed.

Keywords

EN

toddler,; peer,; interaction,; peer relations,; social affordance,; children´s culture,; peer socialization,; peer-self.

• Publisher: Polskie Towarzystwo Pedagogiczne
• Journal: Problemy Wczesnej Edukacji
• Year: 2012
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 4(19)
• Pages: 67-73

Dates

published

2012

Contributors

author

Elin Michélsen

• Stockholm University (Sweden)

Identifiers

ISSN

1734-1582