Looking at worldwide research sites

European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA): This international early childhood organization publishes a well respected journal. All back issues are accessible from this site and are fully searchable without charge.
http://www.eecera.org/

·       What are some of the current international research topics?

I found the following topics on the site that meet very high levels of criteria that involves at least 9 articles from differing perspectives on the topic.  I would have liked to have been able to explore the ones pertaining to research and children's right to play. Unforturnately there was a cost involved to go further.

Volume 22 Issue 3: Disadvantage and Social Justice
Guest Editor: John Bennett

Volume 21 Issue 2: Promoting Play for a better Future
Guest Editors: Elly Singer, Bert van Oers and Maritta Hännikäinen

Volume 20 Issue 4: Praxeological Research in Early Childhood: A contribution to a social science of the social
Guest Editors: Júlia Oliveira-Formosinho and João Formosinho

Volume 19 Issue 3: Children's Perspectives and participation in research
Guest Editors: Deborah Hartcourt and Johanna Einarsdottir

Volume 19 Issue 2: Birth to Three
Guest Editors: Sylvie Rayna and Ferre Leavers

Volume 18 Issue 4: Outdoor play and learning
Guest Editors: Tim Waller, Ellen Beate H. Sandseter, Shirley Wyver, Eva Arlemalm-Hagser and Trisha Maynard

Volume 17 Issue 2: Children's and Parents' Perspectives on diversity in early childhood education
Guest Editors: Michel Vandenbroeck

Volume 16 Issue 2: Professionalism in Early Childhood Education and Care
Guest Editors: Mathias Urban and Carmen Dalli

Volume 16 Issue 1: Leadership & Management
Guest Editors: Margy Whalley, Karen John and Joao Formosinho

·       What surprising facts/insights/new ideas about early childhood did you gain from exploring this international early childhood website?

I have never traveled or lived outside the United States and have never lived anywhere but in Iowa.  My limited view of early care and education gives me doubt at times that I am not seeing world wide issues, but in looking at the topics that have risen to the level of being considered a special issue as listed above are all issues that I have had exposure to or experience with. 

·       What other noteworthy information did you find on this website?

Unfortunately, when I tried to read some of these articles, I was unable to open them.  I find however that on their links tab it gave a very short list of links to other global early care and education sites that also have journal articles available for reading.  I went to the pacific link connection and found articles on play from Japan and China’s perspectives.  I found it interesting that keeping play as a basic activity on equal with beginning reading, writing and math is a struggle heard round the world and now suddenly I feel more connected as this is one of my key passions.


References:

http://www.pecera.org/article/1000/aims-and-scope, retrieved June 4, 2016
http://www.eecera.org/, retrieved June 4, 2016