Abstract
How do young children experience, express and value their relationships? This chapter is about the emergence of young children’s concern for their relationships and the value of sharing worlds with others. The interaction between (1–3 years) children in preschool, drawn from different studies of morality, constitutes the empirical basis. In the discussion, it is claimed that the children’s commitment to share worlds with peers emerges early in life. The sense of belonging is not a question of a reflected concern for others; rather, it is a matter of the children’s very existence and part of the everyday life in preschool.
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Notes
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This can also be interpreted in terms of gender but is outside the scope of this chapter.
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Acknowledgement
I would like to acknowledge Professor Jan Bengtsson whom has deeply inspired my work in many ways. Professor Jan Bengtsson is unfortunately not with us anymore.
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Johansson, E. (2017). Toddler’s Relationships: A Matter of Sharing Worlds. In: Li, L., Quiñones, G., Ridgway, A. (eds) Studying Babies and Toddlers. International Perspectives on Early Childhood Education and Development, vol 20. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3197-7_2
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