A phased approach to researching with young children :lessons from Singapore and beyond

Research Findings: Research with young children is a complex enterprise and often fraught with ethical and practical dilemmas. This paper seeks to discuss the experience of an Australian early childhood academic undertaking research with children 3 to 6 years of age. It draws upon a series of projects that examine young children's standpoints on quality indicators for their prior-to-school setting experiences and the methodologies that provided a framework for a successful research design. Practice or Policy: Focusing on a phased approach first piloted in Singapore, the paper examines some of the ethical and practical considerations, using a continuum process for supporting the active participation of young children in research. This is proposed as a useful tool for experienced and novice researchers seeking a guide to the processes for undertaking this type of research.