Relationships are a central feature of early childhood pedagogy, foregrounding practice with babies and young children. This book explores how babies foster a sense of belonging in spaces outside of the family home. It emphasises the important role the early childhood workforce and other professionals play in creating opportunities for babies to thrive and the positive influence this can have during infancy and beyond.Presenting international cross disciplinary perspectives, the bo...

How can the lived experience of practitioners illuminate the complexities of emotional and ethical care in managing a day care nursery?Much of the policy and practice surrounding early years work in nursery day care emphasises the school readiness of young children, with less focus on the complexity of emotional and ethical demands. Through case studies and her personal lived experience as an education practitioner, caring for infants from 6 weeks to 2 years, autho...

In what ways can attending community groups help to develop a sense of self and belonging for new mothers as they navigate parenthood?Using examples of lived experiences from mothers past and present, Motherland invites readers to explore how community groups have shaped and supported the social identity of their members.Author Amanda Norman considers maternal care beyond the home and the importance of listening to...

In this innovative book, Amanda Norman looks at D. W. Winnicott’s theory of Transitional Objects in early years practice, the ‘good-enough’ parent, and the relationship between the young child and primary carer in relation to the value of Transitional Objects.Norman looks at how an understanding of psychological theories can be useful when caring for young children in both educational and research contexts, aiding those interested in understanding therapeutic relationships, and app...

Using a Person-Centred Approach in Early Years Practice reflects on the principles of person-centred counselling, developed by Carl Rogers. It guides students and practitioners to use this approach within the sphere of early childhood education, providing radical new ways of promoting emotions, emotional regulation and well-being.This accessible resource reveals how a therapeutic approach with a humanistic perspective can be understood and woven into early years profession...

This book is the essential guide to understanding the historical influences that have shaped our ideas about infancy and infant care today. It introduces the key theories, themes, and concepts that have shaped the history of infant care and invites readers to explore how events, approaches, traditions, studies and stories have shaped modern day practice.From foundlings to wetnurses, community care and edu-carers, it introduces topics about family life, professional roles, and educa...

With recent advances in digital technology, a number of exciting and innovative approaches to writing lives have emerged, from graphic memoirs to blogs and other visual-verbal-virtual texts. This edited collection is a timely study of new approaches to writing lives, including literary docu-memoir, autobiographical cartography, social media life writing and autobiographical writing for children. Combining literary theory with insightful critical approaches, each essay offers a serious stud...

Recognising the importance of ‘the first one thousand days’, from the beginning of a woman’s pregnancy until her child’s second birthday, this comprehensive guide takes a fresh look at the role of the practitioner in supporting the family, mother and child from conception through to early infancy.A period of dramatic physical, social and emotional change for both the parent and child, an infant’s experiences during his or her first two years of life have a significant impact on lat...