Can arts-informed pedagogy facilitate communities of learning and belonging for minoritised early years children? An integrative review of research
Ajodhia A. CohenMiller A.S.
2024Routledge
International Journal of Early Years Education
2024#32Issue 152 - 67 pp.
This integrative review examines arts-informed pedagogy within early childhood education in relation to diversity and inclusion. Research suggests the arts serve as socially just pedagogy, appreciating diversity of student voice and experience whilst facilitating academic ownership and freedom to create inventive ways of knowing and learning. Arts integration in early childhood demonstrates capacity to foster dialogic experiences, collaboration, child development and therapeutic benefits. Yet, what does the research indicate when combining interdisciplinary topics of the arts, early years learning and minoritised children (ethnicity, culture, language, disability)? In keeping with critical theoretical and social constructivist frames the review analysed abstracts among four major databases, unrestricted by date, and grouping the terms ‘arts pedagogy/the arts’, ‘inclusion’, ‘diversity’ and ‘early childhood’. Results yielded three key themes: (1) identity and voice, (2) empowerment as knowledge producers and (3) naturalistic learning opportunities. Although highlighting possibilities of the arts to enhance educational inclusion and equity, the review suggests sparsity within the literature and need for research knowledge diversification. We argue reconceptualising arts-informed pedagogy to build communities of learning and belonging among early years minoritised children.
arts-based pedagogy , diversity , early years learning , Inclusive education , integrative literature review
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Graduate School of Education, Nazarbayev University, Astana, Kazakhstan
Graduate School of Education
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026