Pædagogers betydning for børn med lavmælte handlingers deltagelsesmuligheder i legefællesskaber

This article explores the subdued actions of 0–3-year-old children in relation to how both they and their actions are made visible to other children and ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care) professionals. Several research studies have investigated children’s participation in communities and their ability to become visible in social contexts, but few studies have examined 0–3-year-old children. The empirical data consists of observations and interviews with ECEC professionals in three ECEC settings in different Danish municipalities. The analysis shows that when ECEC professionals act as loudspeakers for the children by interpreting and translating their actions to the other children, the children become aware of each other and relate to each other in play communities. Across these findings, the situational presence of ECEC professionals emerges as an essential prerequisite for increasing participation opportunities for children with subdued actions.