The Process of Understanding a Child :

Focusing on Information from Colleagues

Abstract

The objective of this study is to clarify the influence of colleagues in childcare upon the process of understanding a child. The first author, a kindergarten teacher, analyzed her journal of childcare and information from her colleagues with the second author, a researcher, using a qualitative analysis methodology. The results are as follows. First, there exist both verbal and nonverbal types of information. Second, there are four types of information to modify the teacher's understanding. Third, the information has both quantitative and qualitative effects. The colleagues have a great influence on structuring the teacher's understanding of a child by sharing information about events related to the child, their views and values to him/her, and so on.