Pedagogical practices in ECEC institutions and children’s linguistic, motor, and socio-emotional needs during the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a longitudinal multi-perspective study in Germany

• DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2022.2116431
• Publication Date: 2022-09-21T11:04:52Z
• Authors: S. Diefenbacher; M. Grgic; F. Neuberger; H. Maly-Motta; F. Spensberger; S. Kuger
• Keywords: Pandemic; Longitudinal Study; Child Care

During the COVID-19 pandemic, German early childhood education and care (ECEC) institutions had to limit their provision of ECEC, implement protective measures, handle new organizational tasks. Data from two longitudinal surveys (October 2020 July 2021) among ECEC managers pedagogical staff were analysed. Limited resources, limited access, high pandemic-related challenges (i.e. difficulties conflicts related implementing measures), negatively associated with frequency practices (Models 1, 2). Manager ratings suggested increased developmental needs for children low socio-economic status; also higher at stages pandemic (T1) was lower increase a later stage (T2, about 5 months later). In sum, this contribution provides evidence how might have affected quality in on both structural interaction level this, subsequently, impacted child outcomes.