Keywords
children's participation
observation
early childhood education
praxiological reflection
How to Cite
Abstract
Children's participation in early childhood education is a key indicator of pedagogical quality. Despite the existence of a self-assessment tool for participation practices for professionals, its effectiveness was limited among a group of educators with poorly consolidated reflective skills. This study aims to present the creation and validation of the Child Participation Observation Tool (for children aged 3 to 6), designed to support early childhood educators in critically reflecting on their practices. The tool was developed and subsequently validated in several stages: (1) analysis by experts in child participation and early childhood education; (2) pilot testing with educators recognized for their reflective skills; (3) revision and refinement based on feedback received; (4) application in a specific educational context, with subsequent qualitative analysis of the educators' observations and reflections. The instrument allowed preschool teachers to focus their attention on children's actions and initiatives, promoting a more concrete and less subjective analysis of their own practices. Observing children's participation proved to be an effective way to promote more responsive and democratic practices. The instrument demonstrated potential as a formative and reflective tool for the continuous improvement of educational practices.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Cristiana Ribeiro, Cristina Mesquita (Author)