Issue Information

In 2017, the number of applications for care orders in England and Wales was the highest ever recorded at 14,207. This is a significant factor, contributing to the rise in the number of children who are looked after, which is at the highest level since 1985. The authors reflect on the recently published Care Crisis Review 2018, a sector‐led review, which examines the reasons for the rise in care proceedings and the number of children in care. The review sought to identify changes to policy and practice within local authorities and the family justice system, in an attempt to divert cases away from the family courts and to reduce the number of children in care, where it is safe to do so. Whilst the legislative framework is largely effective and the system generally works well, there is insufficient funding and resources to meet the needs of children and their families when they seek help, regardless of whether this is at an early stage or when they are in crisis and most in need of care and protection.     

Engaging Children in Meaningful Charity: Opening-up the Spaces within Which Children Learn to Give

This paper presents qualitative evidence from an in-depth, participative action research project with 150 children aged 4–8 years old, exploring their experiences, perceptions and preferences regarding charitable giving. Most children positively engage in charitable giving through home, school and their community; however, less than 20% are aware of the cause area they are being asked to support, and most have little decision-making in their giving. Children’s willingness to engage increases when they critically examine the cause area and are facilitated to lead on giving decisions, often resulting in increased and sustained efforts to support cause areas that matter to them.     

‘Actually There is a Brain in There’: Uncovering Complexity in Pathways Through Education for Young Adults Who Have Been in Care

Internationally, research has highlighted disruption to the educational trajectories of young people in care, documenting concern about upheaval and poor educational outcomes. We present findings from English data arising from qualitative longitudinal research with care experienced people (16–32 years) who were also in education, employment or training. The analysis extends understanding of the experiences of those who achieve educational ‘success’, including those who followed non‐linear trajectories. The need for a flexible education system, and leaving care entitlements, which take into account the disruption experienced by young people in care and the consequent possibility of delayed educational pathways, is discussed.     

倾听儿童的声音：“儿童立场”幼儿园课程质量观的逻辑起点

满足儿童发展的需求是幼儿园课程最为基本的价值诉求。因此,“儿童立场”的幼儿园课程质量观应被重视。通过对哲学视域下质量话语权的转向、发展心理学视角下的儿童观基础以及儿童相关研究范式调整的梳理,不难发现,当前学术界关于儿童的研究已然将聚焦于儿童本身作为研究的基本遵循。由此,文章从理论层面论证了儿童在幼儿园课程质量中主体性地位的重要性,并从课程目标、课程内容、课程实施以及课程评价四个方面出发,论述了在教育实践场中“儿童立场”幼儿园课程质量观的基本样态。     

幼儿园新教师观察能力现状调查与分析——基于福建省幼儿园调查

幼儿园教师专业性的重要体现是通过观察和解读儿童,为儿童提供适宜的支持,促进幼儿的学习与发展。通过问卷调研福建省1062名幼儿园新教师观察能力现状,从确定观察目标、选择和运用观察方法、筛选观察信息和观察记录以及观察分析和支持四个维度进行分析。研究发现：幼儿园新教师具备较强的观察意识,但是观察能力普遍处于低水平观察。新教师的观察能力在学历、幼儿园等级、幼儿园性质、幼儿园所处地域上呈现显著性差异。研究建议：完善职前课程培养体系,通过情境式的研训方式提升新教师的观察能力。     

幼儿冒险游戏水平与抗挫折能力的关系：自我效能感的中介作用

为考察幼儿冒险游戏水平与抗挫折能力的关系,及考察自我效能感在两者关系中的中介作用,本研究随机选取浙江省杭州市148名幼儿为被试,通过任务测评法评定幼儿的冒险游戏水平和自我效能感,通过教师问卷评定报告幼儿的抗挫折能力。结果表明：幼儿冒险游戏水平、自我效能感、抗挫折能力发展良好;冒险游戏水平直接正向预测抗挫折能力,并通过自我效能感间接预测抗挫折能力。     

双语学习对儿童词汇意识的影响

关于双语学习对儿童词汇意识的影响,学界观点不一,解释机制多样.综述分析目前的研究发现:双语学习对儿童词汇意识的负面影响是不存在的,且仅是理论上的;尽管双语学习可能会导致双语者的词汇量减少,但是词汇意识测试中的双语劣势不是源于双语学习本身.双语学习对儿童认知的影响是正面的,尤其是有利于加工控制能力和选择注意能力等发展,从而促进了儿童词汇意识的形成和发展.     

Parenting Disputes After Separation and Divorce: Who Needs a Family Lawyer?

Australia's family law system continues to be plagued by serious delays. This article acknowledges the need for legal interventions in post‐separation parenting disputes in which individuals may be at risk, or in cases of genuine emergency. The article next contrasts cases involving significant risk or urgency with the many ‘ordinary’ (even if sometimes complex) post‐separation disputes over parenting in which these circumstances are not present. I argue that in such cases, legal advice, legally informed dispute processes, and court hearings are remnants from earlier attitudes to separation and divorce. These interventions are expensive, frequently destructive of ongoing parental relationships, and at their heart, inappropriate for considering the needs of children. They also divert time and resources from the critical investigative and legal decision‐making processes needed in urgent or risk‐related cases. I propose that legal narratives in ‘ordinary’ post‐separation parenting disputes be replaced by narratives focused on the main drivers of these disputes, which are invariably expressed in terms of relationship difficulties. Such narratives are amenable to facilitative, therapeutic, and systemic interventions aimed at achieving self‐determined resolutions. They contrast markedly with narratives reflecting common law notion of normative resolutions derived from the application of legal precedent. Key issues in the first section of the article are then teased out via the reflections of an imaginary separated parent in an ‘ordinary,’ albeit difficult and emotionally intense, dispute about how to care for the children. In the final section, I offer brief clinical and systemic reflections on past practice and on future narratives focused on individual self‐determination.