Alex og det store treet (Alex and the Big Tree)

Abstract

Alex og det store treet (Alex and the Big Tree) is a children’s book designed to spark ideas between children and staff in kindergarten. The inspiration for the book comes from research undertaken in kindergartens and the pedagogical framework used in the intervention in the project Move-play-explore in early childhood education (MoveEarly). The purpose of the book is to find a way to communicate and share research directly with children and staff in kindergarten.

This text offers reflections on the inception and development of the book. It discusses the process of translating and disseminating research findings through a children’s book, aiming to communicate complex pedagogical ideas in an accessible, engaging, and artistic manner, ultimately promoting rich dialogues and reflections around these ideas within Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings. It delves into how the book was created through rigorous processes involving video recordings of children’s movement, play and exploration in kindergartens, as well as the theoretical underpinnings within the project. Furthermore, the discussion underscores the blend of arts-based communication and research dissemination, particularly with a focus on the ethical aspects of sharing research with those the research is about and intended for.