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The Bloomsbury Handbook of Critical Perspectives in Early Childhood

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Critical Perspectives in Early Childhood cover

The Bloomsbury Handbook of Critical Perspectives in Early Childhood

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Pre-order. Available Jan 21 2027
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Description

The Handbook of Critical Perspectives in Early Childhood offers an overview of critical perspectives on the theories and methodologies, identities (cultural and personal), and social contexts of young children, their families, communities, teachers, and caregivers. This handbook addresses equity, power, and justice issues in social contexts and confronts the practice of shying away from naming and condemning white supremacy, racism, anti-blackness, xenophobia, ableism, and gender discrimination. The chapters challenge the colonization of educational research toward decolonization, demarginalization and humanizing that reframes and redirects the longstanding zealousness of blaming problems on children, families, and communities, leaving exculpatory policies and corporate interests which drive dispossession. The handbook includes a glossary of terms and serves as a foundational text and reference to teacher educators, researchers, scholars, students, and stakeholders working with young children, their families, communities, teachers, and caregivers.

Table of Contents

Section 1: Critical Theories and Methodologies to Humanize and (Re)Imagine Childhood/
Brian L. Wright
1. Childism and the Very Young by Tanu Biswas, Associate Professor of Pedagogy, University of Stavanger & John Wall, Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Childhood Studies, Rutgers University Camden
2. Feminist Materialist and Agential Realist Approaches in (Environmental) Education by Nikki Fairchild, University of Portsmouth, Hannah Hogarth, University of Bath, & Charlotte Hankin, University of Bath
3. Tamaiti o le Moana - Children of Moana: Pacific childhoods through relational ecologies by Dr Jacoba Matapo, Faculty of Culture and Society Auckland University of Technology & Dr Jeanne Teisina, Faculty of Culture and Society Auckland University of Technology
4. The Dynamic of Interaction: Racial justice work in early childhood education and the creation of a duoethnographic Third Space by Lucinda G. Heimer, University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Thelma Nayquonabe, Ph.D. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribal Member, Dianne Sullivan, M.S. Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribal Member, Bizhiiki Wellness Center, & Vivian Randolph Muhammad, Founder & Co-Owner, The Elephant Garden, Organically sustaining urban spaces
5. Teaching Across Difference in Politically Divisive Times: Six Lessons from Psychoanalysis for Teacher Education by Gail Boldt, Pennsylvania State University & Joseph Tobin, University of Georgia
6. Elevating Racism and Cultural Wealth in the Science of Early Childhood Education: Addressing Anti-Blackness in Research by Iheoma U. Iruka, Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Tonia R. Durden, Ph.D., Georgia State University, Amber M. Neal-Stanley, Purdue University, & Alexandria Forte, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,
7. Expanding Trauma-Informed Practices with Young Children: Towards Emotionally Responsive Teaching by Travis Wright, University of Wisconsin-Madison & Eric Crawford, University of Wisconsin-Madison
8. Heterotopias as Culturally Sustaining Spaces in Arts-Based Elementary Education by Leslie Rech Penn, University of Georgia & Shin Ae Han, University of Hawaii at Manoa
9. Talent Development in Every Classroom: Pedagogy for Potential by Nancy B. Hertzog, Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of Washington & Rachel L. Milah, Learning Sciences and Human Development, University of Washington
10. Confronting the Anti-Black Misandric Restrictions of Black Boyhood Play in Early Childhood Classrooms by Nathaniel Bryan, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, University of Texas at Austin & Michelle DeJohnette, Department of Early Childhood Studies, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona
Section II: Identities, Perspectives, Voices, and Agency of Children and Their Caregivers
11. Racial Identity Formation and the Role of the Early Childhood Educator by Toni Sturdivant, Mid-America Regional Council
12. Religion and spirituality: Integral and intersecting dimensions of identity within children, families, and communities by Mona M. Abo-Zena, University of Massachusetts - Boston &Lindsay Beatty, University of Massachusetts – Boston
13. Understanding the Politics of Identity and Its Implications by Angel Chan, The University of Auckland & Criss Jones Díaz, Western Sydney University
14. Childhoods in Indonesia: Reconceptualising Dominant Discourses of School Readiness by Vina Adriany, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Hani Yulindrasari, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, Euis Kurniati, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia, & Marek Tesar, The University of Auckland
15. What Does it Mean for Young Children to Matter in Schools? by Anna Falkner, The University of Memphis & Natacha Ndabahagamye Jones, The University of North Texas
16. From the Congress to the Classroom: Toward Critical Early Childhood Language Policy Studies by Allison Sterling Henward, Pennsylvania State University & Kiyomi Umezawa, University of Hawai'i at Manoa
17. (Re)Imagining the School Experiences of Black Boys to Nurture, Cultivate, and Protect Their Identities, Agency, and Voice by Brian L. Wright, University of Memphis
18. (Re)Imagining Black Boyhood: Toward a Critical Framework for Educational Research by Michael J. Dumas, University of California, Berkeley & Joseph Derrick Nelson, Swarthmore College
19. From Marginalisation to Emancipation: Possibilities of Citizenship for Young Children and Families by Peng Xu, School of Education Science, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China Jenny Ritchie, Te Puna Akopai - School of Education, & Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, Aotearoa New Zealand
20. Conversations on the Future of Gender and Sexuality: Staying Open to Hope by Harper Keenan, University of British Columbia, Esther O. Ohito, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, & Jonathan Silin, University of Toronto
Section III: Social Contexts of Children Living, Learning, and Developing
Sara Michael-Luna, University of Central Florida
21. Developmentally Appropriate Practice Revised: The Impact on the Social Context of Early Education and Care by Brian L. Wright, University of Memphis, Sara Michael Luna, University of Central Florida & Vivian L. Gadsden, University of Pennsylvania
22. Demarginalizing Young Children Through Disability Critical Race Theory
(DisCrit) in Early Childhood Research by Maggie R. Beneke, College of Education,
University of Washington & April Coloma Boyce, College of Education, University of Washington,
23. Using Children's Picture Books and Children's Songs with Trans* Characters to Promote Inclusivity and Resistance by Ashley Sullivan, Penn State Behrend & Mara Sapon-Shevin, Syracuse University
24. Literacy and Learning at Home, Before and During Covid: Bella's Story by Daris McInnis, West Chester University of Pennsylvania & Vivian L. Gadsden, University of Pennsylvania
25. An Equity Ethos for Early Childhood Development by Felicity A. Crawford, Boston University & Theodore A. Bremner, Howard University
26. Latine immigrant parents' conceptualization of their children as learners in early schooling in the U.S. by Kiyomi Sánchez-Suzuki Colegrove, Texas State University & Christian Zuñiga, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley
27. Rethinking Preschool Assessment Practicesby Lacey Peters, Hunter College, City University of New York
28. School Suspensions for Black Children in Early Childhood Education: A Landscape Analysis of California Public Education by Idara Essien, San Diego State University, J. Luke Wood, Sacramento State University & Alexandria Rivas-Blackwell, San Diego State University
29. Culturally Inclusive Family-School Connections in a Global Society by Christine M. McWayne, Tufts University & Nan Xiao, Tufts University
30. Disrupting the Regimes of Truth: Advocacy and Activism as Mechanisms of Resistance in Early Childhood Policy and Curriculum by Sara Michael-Luna, University of Central Florida & Daniel J. Castner, Indiana University – Bloomington
References
Index

Product details

Bloomsbury Academic Test
Published Jan 21 2027
Format Ebook (PDF)
Edition 1st
Pages 416
ISBN 9781350383869
Imprint Bloomsbury Academic
Series Bloomsbury Handbooks
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Anthology Editor

Sara Michael Luna

Sara Michael Luna is Associate Professor at the Un…

Anthology Editor

Brian L. Wright

Brian L. Wright is Associate Professor and Program…

Anthology Editor

Marek Tesar

Marek Tesar is Head of the School of Learning Deve…

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