TY - JOUR

T1 - Reasons Given by ECEC Professionals for (Not) Being in Contact With Parents During the COVID-19 Pandemic

AU - Hemmerich, Fabian

AU - Erdem-Möbius, Hande

AU - Burghardt, Lars

AU - Anders, Yvonne

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © Copyright © 2021 Hemmerich, Erdem-Möbius, Burghardt and Anders.

PY - 2021/11/8

Y1 - 2021/11/8

N2 - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the German government took drastic measures and ordered the temporary closure of early childhood education and care services (apart from emergency care). Most pedagogical professionals in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings were unable to provide institutional care for children during this period, and thus experienced difficulties fulfilling their legally mandated professional obligation to educate children. Building on the importance of professional–parent collaboration, this study investigates the reasons ECEC professionals gave for (not) being in contact with parents during the pandemic. The database comprises a nationwide survey conducted between April and May 2020 (n = 2,560 ECEC professionals). The results show that the vast majority of respondents were in contact with parents; their stated motives include providing informational or emotional support for parents and children, maintaining a relationship, or inquiring about family wellbeing. The explanations for not being in contact with parents include already existing contact with parents by another member of the ECEC staff, an employer-mandated contact ban, problems on the parents’ side, or personal reasons. We find some differences between managers in center-based childcare, pedagogical employes in center-based childcare, and professionals in family based childcare. Practical implications concerning professional–parent collaboration and the temporary closure of ECEC services are discussed.

AB - In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the German government took drastic measures and ordered the temporary closure of early childhood education and care services (apart from emergency care). Most pedagogical professionals in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings were unable to provide institutional care for children during this period, and thus experienced difficulties fulfilling their legally mandated professional obligation to educate children. Building on the importance of professional–parent collaboration, this study investigates the reasons ECEC professionals gave for (not) being in contact with parents during the pandemic. The database comprises a nationwide survey conducted between April and May 2020 (n = 2,560 ECEC professionals). The results show that the vast majority of respondents were in contact with parents; their stated motives include providing informational or emotional support for parents and children, maintaining a relationship, or inquiring about family wellbeing. The explanations for not being in contact with parents include already existing contact with parents by another member of the ECEC staff, an employer-mandated contact ban, problems on the parents’ side, or personal reasons. We find some differences between managers in center-based childcare, pedagogical employes in center-based childcare, and professionals in family based childcare. Practical implications concerning professional–parent collaboration and the temporary closure of ECEC services are discussed.

KW - Educational science

KW - Kindertagesbetreuung

KW - Kita

KW - Corona-Pandemie

KW - Soziale Unterstützung

KW - Social Support

KW - Frühe Kindheit

KW - Early Childhood

KW - Early Childhood Education and Care

KW - COVID-19

KW - Pandemic

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85119526446&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701888

DO - 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.701888

M3 - Journal articles

C2 - 34819893

VL - 12

JO - Frontiers in Psychology

JF - Frontiers in Psychology

SN - 1664-1078

M1 - 701888

ER -