Research background on early childhood, approaches as a field of knowledge in Colombia between 2000 and 2020

Abstract

This review article makes the state of the art of early childhood known as a field of knowledge, based on the bibliographic review of a corpus of fifty-three (53) texts published in the last twenty years. Theoretical and disciplinary approaches are presented with which early childhood has been approached, especially in Colombia; as well as trends in epistemological and methodological perspectives. The analysis plan included a linear and cross-sectional review of the information, with which the sources were compared to identify coincidences, gaps, confirmations and extensions. According to the analysis of the conceptual categories: early childhood, notion of the field, initial education, development and comprehensive care, and public policies, the following trends were identified: historical accounts of early childhood; approaches to early childhood from hygienist and economistic positions; academic and institutional approaches to early childhood; projections of the perspectives of gender, ethnicity, territory, and of boys and girls as political subjects, social actors and agents with the capacity to participate and influence.

Keywords

• early childhood
• scientific field
• child development
• early childhood education
• social policy