”Jeg ville bestemme alt som går an” : en intervjuundersøkelse om et utvalg barns syn på ”den gode barnehagen”

摘要

This paper is based on a qualitative interview with six children at the age of 4-6 yearsold, from two different kindergartens. My purpose with this study is to let thechildren’s own voices be heard in the debate about the quality of early childhoodeducation in the kindergartens in Norway. The main issue is:What views do a selection of children have on what the ideal kindergarten (“den godebarnehagen”) should be like?Another purpose is to compare the topics that concern the children with a relevantpolitical document. This spring, 2013, Meld St. 24 (2012-2013) (2013) Framtidensbarnehage from the Norwegian government, was released. In this study I let thechildren’s views form the starting point for reading the Meld. St. 24 in search of howthis document mentions the topics I identified as the most important ones for thechildren when they talked about how they wanted the kindergarten to be if they coulddecide.The study is inspired of the critical hermeneutic phenomenology, and in the secondchapter of this paper I explain more about both phenomenology and hermeneutics,and especially the critical hermeneutics.My methodological choices have become a very important part of this study. I havediscussed these choices with the purpose of trying to let the children´s voices beheard. Nevertheless it will still be me, the adult and researcher, who has the power.That is why it has been especially important to reflect on ethical dilemmas and theviews of how knowledge is produced. A short summary of my findings is that for most of the children it is the opportunity toplay and make friends, as well as the esthetical dimension of the physicalenvironment, that makes a good kindergarten. In the political document Meld. St. 24the employees in the kindergarten are highlighted as the most important element.