Beyond words : investigating the role of visuals in enhancing communication in ECEC setting

Abstract

This development thesis examined the theory and benefits of using visual aids in early childhood education settings. The theoretical study showed that visuals facilitate communication, thus fostering inclusivity and understanding for both children and guardians, independent of language background or the children's support needs. They also support language development and provide pedagogical support in versatile situations at the daycare. The practical development goal was to assess how the target daycare used visuals compared to the theory and to create practical recommendations for early childhood education and care teachers and personnel. The theoretical assessment and outcome of the observations and interviews at the daycare resulted in developing a guide with recommendations on which types of visual sets to create and how to use them systematically to provide the identified pedagogical support and benefits in versatile situations at the daycare. The use of visuals to facilitate communication with the children's guardians represents a fascinating new perspective that should be further developed, including translating the brochure into Finnish to enhance collaboration.