Homelessness in Early Childhood Education & Care Pedagogy: Insights of ECEC Professionals
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| Title: | Homelessness in Early Childhood Education & Care Pedagogy: Insights of ECEC Professionals |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Tina Bonnett (ORCID |
| Source: | Child Care in Practice. 2026 32(2):145-162. |
| Availability: | Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 18 |
| Publication Date: | 2026 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Education Level: | Early Childhood Education |
| Descriptors: | Early Childhood Education, Child Care, Early Childhood Teachers, Child Caregivers, Foreign Countries, Homeless People, Child Safety, Altruism, Social Bias, Knowledge Level, Teacher Attitudes, Childrens Attitudes, Teacher Influence, Social Attitudes |
| Geographic Terms: | Canada |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13575279.2025.2566362 |
| ISSN: | 1357-5279 1476-489X |
| Abstract: | A bioecological systems approach is associated with Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) pedagogies as when children engage with the world their emerging identities, understandings of inequity, and potential to action their political voice can be realized--which is influenced by the professionals who care for them. This applies to participation in the local communities of ECEC organizations where homelessness exists. Specific to Ontario, Canada, this is vaguely contemplated in ECEC practice, which is a dilemma given that homelessness is on the upsurge for a host of reasons including neoliberalism and the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also troubling as ECEC-based homelessness research in other countries suggests that professionals often employ a deficit lens reinforcing stereotypical, marginalizing, and othering discourse. A qualitative Instrumental Case Study (ICS), drawing on a Social Constructivist philosophical paradigm, was designed to confront these gaps and uncover how ECEC professionals respond to homelessness when they, alongside the children in their care, interact with their local ECEC communities. Focus groups, demographic questionnaires, and researcher journals revealed that encounters are predominantly indirect. Moreover, when encounters transpire they are bracketed by feelings and responses of ECEC professionals that are informed by their own biases, a lack of training to manoeuvre this complex topic, and fear of repercussions from parents should their child(ren) come in contact with people unhoused while in care. The findings additionally exposed that ECEC professionals are resolute to maintaining child safety in homelessness encounters, while simultaneously modelling compassion. Essential to strengthening this facet of practice in the early years field, according to participants of this ICS, is pre- and in-service learning, and curriculum and policy that intersect homelessness with humane citizenship principles. This qualitative study hopes to engage early years communities to appraise how homelessness pertains to ECEC pedagogy, curriculum reform, and policy. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Entry Date: | 2026 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1503415 |
| Database: | ERIC |
| Abstract: | A bioecological systems approach is associated with Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) pedagogies as when children engage with the world their emerging identities, understandings of inequity, and potential to action their political voice can be realized--which is influenced by the professionals who care for them. This applies to participation in the local communities of ECEC organizations where homelessness exists. Specific to Ontario, Canada, this is vaguely contemplated in ECEC practice, which is a dilemma given that homelessness is on the upsurge for a host of reasons including neoliberalism and the COVID-19 pandemic. This is also troubling as ECEC-based homelessness research in other countries suggests that professionals often employ a deficit lens reinforcing stereotypical, marginalizing, and othering discourse. A qualitative Instrumental Case Study (ICS), drawing on a Social Constructivist philosophical paradigm, was designed to confront these gaps and uncover how ECEC professionals respond to homelessness when they, alongside the children in their care, interact with their local ECEC communities. Focus groups, demographic questionnaires, and researcher journals revealed that encounters are predominantly indirect. Moreover, when encounters transpire they are bracketed by feelings and responses of ECEC professionals that are informed by their own biases, a lack of training to manoeuvre this complex topic, and fear of repercussions from parents should their child(ren) come in contact with people unhoused while in care. The findings additionally exposed that ECEC professionals are resolute to maintaining child safety in homelessness encounters, while simultaneously modelling compassion. Essential to strengthening this facet of practice in the early years field, according to participants of this ICS, is pre- and in-service learning, and curriculum and policy that intersect homelessness with humane citizenship principles. This qualitative study hopes to engage early years communities to appraise how homelessness pertains to ECEC pedagogy, curriculum reform, and policy. |
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| ISSN: | 1357-5279 1476-489X |
| DOI: | 10.1080/13575279.2025.2566362 |
