Inventaire


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Units : Unit of Developmental and Family Psychology | ULB100



Description :


This research aims to explore the experiential world of young children within an intersubjective developmental context from a
Mosaic Approach. Few studies and authors have considered the views and experiences of children under five years old. One of the
barriers to this approach is the language acquisition of the young child and the uncertainty about 'how to listen' to children at this
age. Malaguzzi (cited by Clark & Statham, 2005) refers to the 'hundred languages of children', emphasizing the many different ways
in which young children communicate and develop intersubjective experiences. Malaguzzi also refers to the 'hundred ways of
listening'. Clark (2005) and Clark & Statham (2005) explore the Mosaic Approach, a methodology for listening to young children that
brings together verbal and visual tools (e.g. cameras, tours and mapmaking) to reveal young children's perspectives. The material
produced by the children provides a platform for communication between adults and children. For the moment, the ULB unit of
Developmental and Family Psychology (Prof. Lotta De Coster and Researcher Emanuela Garau) studies the way in which young children experience
their daily life and the communication with other children and adults at daycare (18 ' 36 months) and at school (2 years and a
half- 6 years). This current research is financed by the Observatoire de l'Enfance, de la Jeunesse et de l'Aide à la Jeunesse
(2013-2014 : Enquête exploratoire sur le point de vue des enfants de 0 à 6 ans sur la qualité de l'accueil et de l'éducation qui
leur sont dispensés) and is carried out in collaboration with the Service des Sciences de l'Education (ULB, professor Sabine Kahn).
Joint ULB-VUB future research will focus on the possible applications of this Mosaic Approach to studies on the intersubjective
development of young children, who are involved in foster care. To document and communicate important details of their present as
well as past lives might have an important psychological impact on these children. Feeling understood and having their views taken
seriously by adults seem to be particularly important for children who often experienced serious discontinuities in their
lives.This fourth research package will be conducted by the ULB Unité de Psychologie du Développement et de la Famille in close
cooperation with the VUB research group IDNS, the Observatoire de l'Enfance, de la Jeunesse et de l'Aide à la Jeunesse and the SASPE
(Service d'Accueil Spécialisé de la Petite E

List of persons in charge :


  • DE COSTER Lotta


List of lessors :


  • Initiatives ministérielles et autres Communauté française

  • Autres fonds publics belges