Convergence of control and affection in classroom management: affectionate and disciplining touch and talk

The study investigates everyday social interactions in a Swedish kindergarten, where educators use affectionate touch as a tool to maintain order within the group of children. The goal is to understand how educators balance control and care, as well as how they combine touch with other communication methods in order to make discipline less intrusive.

The study shows that educators used a combination of verbal communication and affectionate touch to manage the children’s behaviour, promote their participation, and take their social and emotional needs into consideration. They often combined instructions, reprimands and requests with touches such as strokes and pats, which helped the educators maintain order and encourage participation. This approach contributed to positive relationships and a good atmosphere in kindergarten.

The researchers observed everyday activities in a regular Swedish kindergarten and documented the children’s daily learning activities and play. This included free play, gathering sessions, book reading, meals, and transitions between different activities. The sample consisted of nine educators and 35 children aged one to five years. The data were collected using video observation and consisted of a total of 24 hours of recording.

Cekaite, A., & Bergnehr, D. (2023). Convergence of control and affection in classroom management: affectionate and disciplining touch and talk. Learning, Culture and Social Interaction, 41, 100733.