”Kulturelt og språklig mangfold – og norskhet – i barnehager med norsk-russiske barn i Finnmark”.

This study focuses on problems regarding daycare centres’ activities in relation to children and families with a Russian background. The purpose is to generate knowledge about how the Russian culture and language can be made visible at daycare centres, and how daycare centres contribute to supporting children’s double cultural affiliations and their development of multilingual competences. The study also examines cooperation with parents and Russian parents’ involvement in the daycare centres.

The analyses show how the Russian culture and language at the daycare centres are dealt with at municipal level and among staff and parents. The study shows that there is possibility for improvement for daycare centres to be able to fulfil the statutory requirements to reflect cultural and linguistic diversity. The study confirms the importance of language as a cultural bearer and that all Russian mothers highlight the importance of there being room for the Russian language at the daycare centres. The Russian language also has a dominant place in the everyday practice of daycare centres. Apart from the importance of the language, the Russian mothers express less interest in incorporating the Russian culture at daycare centres.

The author interviewed eight Russian mothers at five different daycare centres and five child carers from two daycare centres in two different municipalities located on the Norwegian border to Russia. Furthermore, a document analysis was carried out of framework plans about the goal and content for the activities of daycare centres. Finally, the author has observed the physical environment at two daycare centres to find out whether there were traces from other cultures than the Norwegian and Sami cultures. The interviews, which are the central data material, were transcribed, and the material was organised into themes and sub-categories.

Nilsen, H.K. (2011). ”Kulturelt og språklig mangfold – og norskhet – i barnehager med norsk-russiske barn i Finnmark”. Alta: Høgskolen i Finnmark.