The "Contextual" Comic as a Reflective Tool: Supporting Co-education During the Transition in Early Childhood Education and Care Services
Keywords:
Transition phase, Co-education, Parental awareness, Comic, Early childhood education and care (ECEC)Abstract
flessione e alleanza educativa.
en: This paper explores the potential of comics as pedagogical tools for fostering reflective awareness among educators and caregivers during the initial transition phase into Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). Based on an action-research project conducted within a specific early childhood educational setting in the Neapolitan area, the study challenges the child-centered view of transition, proposing instead a co-educational and systemic approach that values the relational interplay between educators and caregivers. Within this context, comics function as multimodal narrative devices that symbolically represent and critically deconstruct observed relational patterns, particularly during moments of separation and reunion. These visual narratives act as triggers for caregiver reflection, fostering shared awareness and strengthening educational partnerships. The study highlights the transformative potential of visual language in supporting self-reflection, intercultural dialogue, and collaborative meaning-making in early education settings.
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