Educação infantil e os desafios da docência entre o cuidar e o educar

Abstract

This work aims to address the relevance of the challenges of teaching in early childhood education, bridging the gap between caregiving and educating. It is an exploratory qualitative research project, developed through a theoretical exploration of the subject and a field study. The paper discusses teaching in early childhood education and the importance of both caregiving and educating. To carry out this work, we conducted a literature review for theoretical discussion and a field study in a private educational institution in João Pessoa. We used a questionnaire for the research, which was answered by two preschool teachers from the institution who participated in the study. The theoretical discussions revealed that early childhood education institutions in Brazil have undergone some changes in their objectives and focus of care. In the current context, early childhood education integrates caregiving and education as an essential part of a child's development, recognizing them as citizens and subjects of rights, as current legislation acknowledges and establishes. The results showed that teaching and pedagogical practices are directly linked to the act of caregiving and educating. From these results, we can conclude that in early childhood education, educators understand their role as mediators of their practices and knowledge, effectively fulfilling their role as educators.