Early childhood teachers encounter situations and topics on daily basis, which might sometimes be difficult for teachers to confront in situ. Earlier studies (e.g. Lehn & Chahboun, 2025; Sutterby & Kharod, 2019) show that teacher’s confront variety of situations where children may deal with topics such as sex and sexuality, violence and war. Reflecting on these situations and topics is important for teachers’ to understand them and to find ways to confront them at hand. Arts-based methods can be implemented for reflection to deal with difficult, humorous and surprising situations.

This case study examines a single Visual Arts Education class in Finnish Early Childhood Teacher Education studies. During the class pre-service teachers (PST) of Blended Early Childhood Teacher Education program reflected their experiences of difficult topics they had confronted in child groups through storytelling and animation.

In this study I ask, how arts-based methods can be used to reflect on difficult topics teachers’ encounter in their work and what art-based methods can provide for teachers from pedagogical perspective to confront the difficult topics. Methodologically, this study is narrative. PSTs’ depict their experiences, understanding and knowledge through narration (e.g. Clandinin & Murphy, 2009; Connolly & Clandinin, 2006) and their reflection is represented through storytelling and animations.

Results show how arts-based methods bring new possibilities for Early Childhood Teachers to reflect on their experiences and implications to confront difficult issues in situ.

Authors:
Jaakko H. Moilanen, University of Oulu, Finland

About the Presenter(s)
Dr. Jaakko H. Moilanen is a university teacher and PhD specializing in visual arts education and early childhood education. His work focuses on visual arts education, teacher education and curricula, participation, and play and playfulness.

Connect on Linkedin
https://linkedin.com/in/jaakko-moilanen-008449160

Connect on ResearchGate
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Jaakko-Moilanen

Additional website of interest
https://www.oulu.fi/en/researchers/jaakko-moilanen

See this presentation on the full schedule – Thursday Schedule

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