Supporting Multilingual Children in Finnish Early Childhood Education & Care : A Practical Approach for Educators

Abstract

The objective of this bachelor’s thesis was to develop a practical guidebook to support multilingual children in Finnish early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings. This thesis was carried out as a developmental portfolio-based thesis, combining theoretical knowledge with practical application. The background of the thesis lies in the increasing linguistic diversity in Finnish daycares and the need for pedagogical tools that help educators foster inclusive, supportive environments for multilingual children. The development work was based on the National Core Curriculum for ECEC and relevant literature on language development, inclusion, and multicultural pedagogy. The target group for the guidebook are ECEC professionals, particularly educators working with linguistically diverse children in our working life partner’s unit.

The outcome of the thesis was a guidebook created on Canva, offering practical strategies, tips, and visual tools to support the language development, participation, and well-being of multilingual children. The guidebook can be applied in daily pedagogical practices, staff training, and professional development in multilingual daycare settings. The work promotes inclusive practices and enhances educators' cultural competence. This thesis has been conducted as a development-based thesis and in portfolio format in Bulb platform.