Integrating Community-Based Values with a Rights-Integrative Approach to Early Learning Through Early Childhood Curricula

Abstract

This chapter presents an application of the conceptual model of social justice that integrates community-based values with Di Santo and Kenneally’s (Child Educ 90(6):395–406, 2014) “rights-integrative approach to early learning” (Caplan et al., J Child Stud 41:38–46, 2016). The conceptual model emerged from an analysis of the British Columbia Early Learning Framework (Government of British Columbia, British Columbia early learning framework. Ministry of Health and Ministry of Children and Family Development, Victoria, 2008). The aim of this chapter is to discuss how the learning framework exemplifies the integration of children’s rights with community-based values. Examples of how professionals working in early learning settings may integrate conceptualizations of children’s rights of a “community of children” in addition to more conventional conceptualizations of child rights as individuals are provided.