Early childhood education and cultural learning: systematic observation of the behaviour of a caregiver at the Emmi Pikler nursery school during breakfast / Educación temprana y aprendizaje cultural: observación sistemática de la conducta de la educadora Pikler durante el desayuno

Abstract

The objective of this study is to analyse the everyday behaviour of a caregiver at the Emmi Pikler nursery school in Budapest as she manages the breakfast of the 12 children aged 2–3 under her care, as an example of quality care. The methodology used was observational. The design was idiographic, follow-up and multidimensional, and the observation instrument is a field format developed ad hoc. The relations of sequentiality and association among the caregiver’s different behaviours are analysed: the actions related to the breakfast itself, the use of space and the gestures accompanying the actions. The results, which were obtained via a lag sequential analysis, demonstrate the existence of a twofold behavioural pattern, instrumental and relational, in which each instrumental action inherent to breakfast is associated with a specific, unique repertoire of postural accompaniment, a combination of gestures and postures on the part of the caregiver, thus forming a clear, univocal sequence for children to learn the meal routine autonomously.