Young Children's Identities

With the social, economic and political challenges alongside implications of the digital era and environmental sustainability in the 21st century, understanding how children feel about themselves, particularly within the complex web of their relationships with family members, peers, friends, practitioners, and professionals is of ultimate importance. Young Children's Identities: A Multi-disciplinary Perspective explores and recognises the importance of identity as a key foundation for children's holistic development and wellbeing. Readers are encouraged to consider diverse perspectives, including history, psychology, sociology, education, ethnography, and human ecology when understanding how children construct and co-construct their identities over time. Supported throughout by Froebelian and , the authors' own personal, professional and research experiences, this essential volume seeks to develop a richer picture of this complex area of young children's identities by addressing the following questions: - Whose values are defining me? - Who am I in a diverse society? - What is the role of professionals in co-constructing children's identities? There is a great need to understand children's identities in early childhood due to the undeniable impact this can have upon their wellbeing and holistic development. This is an essential read for students, academics, practitioners and policy-makers working within early years education, childhood development, psychology and social work.

Dr Fengling Tang is Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at University of Roehampton and Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor, UK Dr Sofia Guimaraes is Senior Lecturer in Psychology at the University of Central Lancashire London (LCA) and an Honorary Research Fellow for the School of Education at University of Roehampton, UK. Dr Clara Rubiano is an Honorary Research Fellow for the School of Education at University of Roehampton, UK.

Introduction; Part I. Whose values are defining me?; 1. Locating the context: time, space and tensions ; 2. Locating perspectives: a multi-disciplinary perspective underpinned by the Froebelian, Freirean lenses; Part II. Who am I in a diverse society?; 3. Understanding life changes in terms of possibilities and challenges; 4. Peers, friends and siblings as partners in children's understanding of others and themselves: interactions in the context of play; 5. Popular culture and children's identities: the complex interplay; 6.The place of creativity: drawing as an important venue for children to express and construct identities; Part III what is the role of professionals in co-constructing children's identities; 7. Interrogating power relations; 8. Contemplating professional identities and roles; 9. Reflecting on equity-based pedagogies; Conclusion; References