Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs

AbstractFor decades the field of early childhood education has experienced an identity crisis. Theoretical ideologies of early childhood pioneers have provided the foundation for understanding young children’s development and the use of DAP for typically and atypically developing children. However,...

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Main Author: June Cade
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Cogent Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2276476
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author June Cade
author_facet June Cade
author_sort June Cade
collection DOAJ
description AbstractFor decades the field of early childhood education has experienced an identity crisis. Theoretical ideologies of early childhood pioneers have provided the foundation for understanding young children’s development and the use of DAP for typically and atypically developing children. However, in the context of the systematic structure of general education and special education, impediments exist due to the notion of preschool children with special needs ought to be isolated because of being labeled. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the strategies that preschool teachers use to meet the individual needs of special needs children and to determine what strategies directors use to support preschool teachers. Data were collected from a purposeful sample of 7 preschool teachers on their perceptions and role within an inclusive classroom. Findings revealed that although some special needs preschool children who were evaluated did not qualify for special education, some preschool teachers believe that special needs preschool children do not belong in a general education classroom. Findings of concern include teachers’ descriptions of practices such as restraining young children and focusing only on typically developing children.
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spelling doaj.art-47122cf907584fb59f4433270a64bbea2023-12-15T10:31:08ZengTaylor & Francis GroupCogent Education2331-186X2023-12-0110210.1080/2331186X.2023.2276476Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needsJune Cade0Skylands Research Institute, Sussex County Community College, Newton, New Jersey, USAAbstractFor decades the field of early childhood education has experienced an identity crisis. Theoretical ideologies of early childhood pioneers have provided the foundation for understanding young children’s development and the use of DAP for typically and atypically developing children. However, in the context of the systematic structure of general education and special education, impediments exist due to the notion of preschool children with special needs ought to be isolated because of being labeled. The purpose of this qualitative exploratory case study was to explore the strategies that preschool teachers use to meet the individual needs of special needs children and to determine what strategies directors use to support preschool teachers. Data were collected from a purposeful sample of 7 preschool teachers on their perceptions and role within an inclusive classroom. Findings revealed that although some special needs preschool children who were evaluated did not qualify for special education, some preschool teachers believe that special needs preschool children do not belong in a general education classroom. Findings of concern include teachers’ descriptions of practices such as restraining young children and focusing only on typically developing children.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2276476child developmentearly childhood educatorsearly childhood theoryguided play-based learningspecial needschild-centered approach
spellingShingle June Cade
Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs
Cogent Education
child development
early childhood educators
early childhood theory
guided play-based learning
special needs
child-centered approach
title Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs
title_full Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs
title_fullStr Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs
title_full_unstemmed Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs
title_short Child-centered pedagogy: Guided play-based learning for preschool children with special needs
title_sort child centered pedagogy guided play based learning for preschool children with special needs
topic child development
early childhood educators
early childhood theory
guided play-based learning
special needs
child-centered approach
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/2331186X.2023.2276476
work_keys_str_mv AT junecade childcenteredpedagogyguidedplaybasedlearningforpreschoolchildrenwithspecialneeds