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Abstract

This dissertation considered the importance of narratives within early childhood. Narratives can provide a purpose and a pathway to life. An individual can choose to follow a direct course based on past and significant experiences, or they have the ability to defer their path in another direction. Narrative development can be seen as complex within early childhood as this development can align with the progression of other developmental areas and can be impacted by leading factors. Furthermore, narratives consisting of personal stories are the earliest attained and most prevalent form of narratives produced by young children. Reaching an understanding of the importance of narratives within early childhood, can support practitioners to encourage children’s agencies in directing their own pathway and meanings to life carrying it through to adulthood.
A literature based approach was used to broaden the understanding of early narrative development and draw upon findings within research of the impacting factors. This dissertation goes beyond ideas of narratives within previous researches by focusing on the emergent development of narratives between the ages of 0-7 years old. Research suggests that children’s narratives not only follow developmental steps in line with the guidance of the Early Years Foundation Stage, it can also be impacted by social experiences with peers, family members and practitioners. Moreover, the cognitive development of episodic and autobiographical memory hugely encourages the organisations of past events used to narrate stories including their own personal narratives. This dissertation focuses on the involvement of practitioners in supporting higher forms of narratives. Thus emphasising, that when children are provided with opportunities to share and listen to their own narratives and narratives of others, they can connect and distinguish between themselves and the world around them.

Course: Early Childhood Studies - BA (Hons)

Date Deposited: 2021-02-03

URI/permalink: https://library.port.ac.uk/dissert/dis13653.html