Safe havens of toddler worldviews in the superdiverse Finnish ECEC

This paper explores toddlers’ worldviews in superdiverse Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC). The particular focus in the analysis is on the ‘safe havens’ expressed by toddlers of the ages 2–3, perceived to generate the sense of safety in their everyday lives, as ‘building blocks’ of existential resilience. In the face of global challenges, societies face shifts in demographic landscapes, also in relation to their religious and worldview landscape. Over the past two decades, Finland has experienced increased migration, leading to a more heterogeneous educational setting, also in ECEC. The concept of superdiversity provides a multidimensional analytical lens that recognises the multifaceted differences, also within groups and between individuals. This paper emphasises toddlers agency and participation utilising toddlers digital autobiographies that include photos, videos, besides interviews. The analysis, guided by Constructivist Grounded Theory, aims to illuminate the perspectives of toddlers regarding their superdiverse environments and construction of existential resilience. This study seeks to enrich the discourse on worldview superdiversity and the meaning of toddlers’ lives, offering fresh insights into the complexities and fluidity of worldview diversity in ECEC.