New Directions: Charting the Paths for the Role of Sociocultural Theory in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum

Abstract

This article identifies the growing role of sociocultural theory as an informant to the early childhood curriculum. Beginning with a brief description of the more traditional Piagetian interpretation regarding development and its use in early childhood education and curricula such as DAP (Developmentally Appropriate Practice), the article identifies key theoretical arguments made against this view on the basis of ontological, methodological and/or epistemological precepts. The growing literature regarding the use of curriculum approaches to early childhood education based on the sociocultural explanations for development proposed by Vygotsky and Rogoff are identified. The article argues that the manner in which sociocultural theory is being utilised in early childhood education may be considered in terms of three main ‘pathways’, including the transformative, assimilated positivist and social-constructivist paths.