Troubled Sleep in ECEC: Exploring Tension and Contradictions in Two Finnish Kindergarten Groups’ Sleep Time Practices

Abstract

In this micro-ethnographic study, I explore the tensions and contradictions of sleep practices in early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings from a cultural-historical activity theory perspective. By drawing on interactional analysis of children’s and adults’ sleep time conduct in two Finnish kindergarten groups and an analysis of interviews with them, the kindergarten leaders and the children’s guardians, my study shows how the troubles experienced stemmed from several contradictions embedded in the sleep time practices and their enactment. These results are consistent with existing research but also go beyond it by providing a more nuanced and layered picture of the conflicting demands placed on sleep time in ECEC settings. Such a picture is vital if we want ECEC settings to provide for more quality sleep during early childhood, and assist in finding ways which allow for this.