Desenvolvimento infantil em pauta: a construção da autonomia na prática pedagógica na educação infantil.

Abstract

In the current scenario, studies on the individuality of children have gained greater emphasis, dismantling the view that they are merely miniature adults. It is recognized that children are social beings seeking opportunities to develop, recognize themselves in the world, and become functional adults. This research aims, through its general objective, to analyze pedagogical practices in Early Childhood Education that contribute to the development of children’s autonomy based on the literature in the field. The specific objectives are: to reflect on the conception of autonomy in child development according to the studied theorists; to identify the main practices used by teachers to promote students’ autonomy based on the literature; and to report the influence of the physical organization of the classroom on promoting students’ autonomy. This is a bibliographic qualitative research of an exploratory nature. The study focuses on the pedagogical practices developed by teachers to promote students’ autonomy and their choices in fostering comprehensive development. The problem was identified and will be addressed during the investigation of this study: how can teachers develop their pedagogical practices to promote children’s autonomy? This research aims to delve into pedagogical practices for building autonomy in Early Childhood Education, guided by the following central questions: what is the importance of autonomy in student development based on the literature in the field? What practices contribute to the development of children’s autonomy? What is the influence of the physical organization of the classroom on promoting students’ autonomy? The theoretical foundation of this research is based on works by authors such as Ariès (1981), Freire (1987), Franco (2016), Kishimoto (2017), among others, which provide central concepts and support for the elaboration of ideas and the development of analytical categories, culminating in the final considerations. The research focused on three categories of discussion: "Autonomy and Child Development: The Importance of These Elements in Early Childhood Education," "Pedagogical Practices and the Relationship Between Autonomy and Development in Early Childhood Education," and "The Influence of Classroom Physical Organization on the Development of Students’ Autonomy." Through content analysis, it was possible to identify the benefits of fostering autonomy through the use of games, play, affectivity, prepared environments, interactions, imagination, respect, routines, planning, and other elements. This research unveiled the importance of promoting children’s autonomy through pedagogical practices that should be carefully designed to encompass various areas of children’s development, providing an environment conducive to their holistic growth.