Nordic Dialogues on Children and Families

This book brings together key authors from the Nordic countries (Sweden, Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) to discuss theoretical and empirical research on families and children. Sharing the Nordic perspective from each of the five countries, the book highlights key ideas within and across the countries. The chapters provide an understanding of the history of the Nordic perspectives of family and children, present current innovative research on solutions to complex issues, and explore contemporary issues. Nordic countries continually attain high scores in lifestyle measures, quality of life and children's outcomes. Much of this has to do with the specific culture and policy of the Nordic countries. Written by academics within the region who are well regarded for contributing to academic and public debate, this book will appeal to an international audience interested in the Nordic perspective and social policy around family and children.

Susanne Garvis is Professor of Child and Youth Studies at the Department of Education, Communication and Learning, University of Gothenburg, Sweden. Elin Eriksen Ødegaard is Professor of Early Childhood Education at the Center of Educational Research, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences, Norway, and Visiting Professor at UiT The Artic University of Norway.

List of contributors Introduction Chapter 1: The collectivity of family conduct of life and parental self-understanding Chapter 2: Family life in the Nordic countries Chapter 3: Constituting Cultures of Compassion in Early Childhood Educational Settings Chapter 4: Pedagogical leadership and families in Swedish preschool Chapter 5: Early Childhood Education, gender relations and equality between parents and families in Sweden Chapter 6: Divorce, families and children Chapter 7: "We have this family 'under the microscope' so to speak": Schools, child abuse and family support Chapter 8: Economic, social and cultural status (ESCS) and mathematics performance of immigrant students' in the Finnish metropolitan area in PISA 2012 Chapter 9: Coming and staying or coming and going? Immigrant families in Denmark: Challenges and opportunities for integration Chapter 10: Parental Engagement in Icelandic Preschools Chapter 11: The Importance of Aesthetic Activities in Norwegian Kindergartens