Toddlers influence on the choice of literature : A study on children´s influence and participation

The study focuses on the work in preschool among the youngest children's and their participation in the choice of literature, the literature that is available to use in the daily activities. The purpose of the study is to describe the essence of the experience of the youngest children's participation in the choice of literature by studying the teachers' perception and experiences. The study investigates the teachers' perceptions and experiences in relation to the choice of literature and how staff at preschools try to ensure that the literature is perceived as interesting and relevant by the children. The study is based on the sociocultural theory. As a methodological approach, phenomenology was used because it allows the participants to describe their own experiences. The study was carried out at four different preschools, through a qualitative method where the investigation is based on the educators' own experiences and thoughts about participation in the choice of literature for the youngest children at preschool. As a data collection method, semi-structured interviews were used and through the use of phenomenological analysis, four overarching themes were identified in the educators' responses. The themes identified were purpose, the view of participation, the children's interest and access. The results show that when there is a purpose to the literature around a specific work, it is perceived to be more difficult to make the children involved. Participation is shown instead by the pedagogues starting from the children's interests when they themselves choose literature. Furthermore, it is made visible that the view of participation is expressed as something theoretical rather than something that educators consciously work with in practice. Inside the own preschool department, the children are made to participate by freely choosing from available literature. The availability of books does not seem decisive for the children's participation, but on the other hand, the lack of access to time and resources is something that is expressed as an obstacle to being able to make the children participate to the extent desired. Preschools that have libraries in their own operations let the children accompany them to the library to a greater extent and choose literature. The available literature on the subject is sparce which suggest further studies on the subject is neede