Values in Nordic early childhood education: democracy and the child’s perspective

The aim of this chapter is to outline and discuss the development of Nordic research on democracy in the field of early childhood education and care (ECEC). We will show how research over a relatively short time has altered from normative and political arguments for democracy in ECEC via an interest in how to implement and operationalize democratic ideas into practice, leading towards a more critical approach addressing complexity to democracy. Through this process a new concept of democracy connected with shared life and pluralism appears to emerge. Communication becomes important. In turn, ambiguity and even conflicting ideas appears to be accepted as a base for democracy.