Post-Modernism and Interactionism: Theories in Early Childhood Education-Report

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Introduction:

The theories of post-modernism and interactionism provide insights into child development, social context, and interaction (Smith & Powell, 2024). Where Interactionism emphasises the necessity of interpersonal relationships, post-modernism challenges the dominant truths and traditional narratives critically. According to Shibutani and Glassner (2017), the era of enlightenment that emerged after the Second World War, where there was a need for certainty and evidence such that there was comfort in truths, became the dominant way of thinking afterwards. Post Modernism is the present era, in which dominant narratives are being challenged. This theory suggests that narratives are socially developed where information already known is not universally true and there can be multiple truths existing simultaneously. Similarly, interactionism is a micro-sociological approach that focuses on social interactions in specific situations, which can be face to face involving actions, reactions and mutual adaptation among two individuals or groups of people who want to communicate with each other (Karababa, 2016).

According to Salvini (2019), the theories of Post-Modernism and Interactionism are selected as they bring inclusive and adaptive educational practices. Postmodernism focuses on the diverse perspectives, and fluidity of identity emphasizing the process of children's development and how the child's development is shaped by various cultural contexts. Where interactionism is based on social interactions, the understanding and insights the children acquire from the experiences, demonstrate how relationships and communication methods affect their understanding of the world around them and self-perception throughout the development (Waite-Jones & Rodriguez, 2022).

Overview of theories and analysis:

Post-Modernism

Interactionism

Post-modernism is the term coined to incorporate the cultural, philosophical and artistic movements that are distinct from modernism (Price, 2021).

Nica (2018), states that this theory challenges dominant truths and narratives promoting diverse perspectives in human experience, as it is no longer possible to rely on the popular ways of representing reality, thus characterized by intellectual scepticism towards popular ideologies, supporting plurality, fragmentations and the concept that meanings are given rather than inherent. It challenges traditional boundaries between genres, disciplines, identities, promoting diversity and subject experience.

Interactionism is a theoretical approach that determines social behaviour as a by-product of interaction between an individual and the situation. This perspective highlights the importance of social interaction and its impact on the individual’s behaviour. Hence the individual learns about society by interacting with the people and the society itself constitutes a multitude of individual interactions.

Many key theorists are contributing to the theory of postmodernism which include:

1. Jean-François Lyotard critiqued the grand narratives providing the concept of the "incredulity toward metanarratives." He characterized postmodernism as the breakdown of grand narratives, which are being replaced by smaller, more fluid narratives which are facilitated by the advancement in technologies (Sim, 2019).

2. Sim (2019), mentions Jacques Derrida gave deconstruction theory in postmodernism, which emphasises the instability of meaning given to texts and the play of language in the binary sense where opposition is created where one of the binaries is rendered as false or valued below the other such as society and nature or man and woman. This belief is applied to literature, philosophy and politics.

3. Michel Foucault contributed to postmodernism by exploring the relationship between power, knowledge, and social institutions stating that they are intimately bound, focusing on how discourse shapes reality through epistemological scepticism and ethical subjectivism (Trim & Esteb, 2017). Which is a general suspicion of reason, and sensitivity to the role of ideology in asserting and maintaining political and economic power. He also critiqued modernity and liberal humanism with a genealogical approach to concepts of sexuality, madness and power (Verovšek, 2022).

The contribution of these theorists has influenced various fields of literature, art, philosophy, and sociology significantly.

A few of the key theorists among many, who have contributed to the theory of interactionism are:

1. George Herbert Mead who is considered the founder of symbolic interactionism, emphasized the role of social interactions in shaping the self-concept and social reality (Puddephatt, 2017). Rohmawati et al. (2021), state that they

believe that the thoughts, self-perception and the community we live in are built through communication which is a symbolic interaction and society is a product of shared symbols such as language.

2. Herbert Blumer was a student of Mead, who coined the term "symbolic interactionism" and stated that symbolic interactionism is based on three premises; where humans respond based on the meanings ascribed to those things (Morrione, 2021). The language, where language provides meaning or symbols to signify the meaning and lastly the thought or interpretive process used by individuals when a person is dealing with things (Dennis, 2017).

3. Erving Goffman contributed to symbolic interactionism by his work on the presentation of self in everyday life. He stated that people adjust their behaviours to build impressions on others how individuals do this impression management in social interactions, where they are public and adjust it when they are in private (Williams, 2022).

The contribution of these theorists has shaped the understanding of how social meanings and identities are constructed through the types of interactions they make with others.

The application of post-modernism theory in early childhood education can be observed when multicultural perspectives are incorporated into the curriculum facilitates children to explore multiple narratives and identities (Farhan, 2019). One of the examples can be during story time when the story books from diverse cultures are included allowing the children to explore different cultures through stories and enhance their critical engagement with different viewpoints provided (Popescu, 2018).

The integration of post-modernism in childhood development and practice planning requires the educator to recognise the diverse narratives and the experiences of children accordingly. If the educator understands this then there will be the honoring of multiple identities and cultural backgrounds in the classroom. Popescu (2018), states that the planning will be developed according to an inclusive curriculum that will promote critical thinking. The group activities can help children with such exposures that incorporate team projects, storytelling and arts where children can express themselves according to their culture’s dominant narrative (Mihăilă, 2018).

Interactionism can be observed when children are interacting in collaborative learning environments and learning through peer interactions. It can be seen during team play where children learn to negotiate roles and solve problems altogether, developing their social skills and emotional intelligence (Bosun-Arije & Ekpenyong, 2023). Similarly, the language used in front of or for the children how they perceive themselves and people around them as the label of average, above average, gifted or special needs can affect child self-perception and their interaction with their teachers (Lee, 2014).

By integrating interactionism in the planning the, curriculum will be able to provide activities involving collaboration hence pushing them to establish communication and relationships among peers (Ball, 2020). Lee (2014), states that educators can create a learning environment where children engage in dialogue, share experience and knowledge through active participation and enhance social skills, developing cognitive and emotional growth with such interactions.