BECERA 2026 THEME

Childhoods in Transition

Transitions are not only confined to the process of moving to school but also include other series of experiences which demand attention and careful consideration, in terms of both continuity and change for the child and their family. The early childhood sector is uniquely placed to support these changes and has the capacity to navigate transitions with strength, agility and wellbeing for all parties. As we address the current realities and dynamics of our changing world, the 2026 BECERA conference seeks to reconsider and explore some of the most critical changes and transitions within the early childhood landscape.

There are changing demographics with lowering fertility rates in wealthier countries which will mean smaller families, older parents, and fewer siblings and playmates. There are conflicts around the globe that our youngest children witness and from which families flee. The composition and cultural worlds of families are diversifying and increasingly complex. There is an increased focus on performativity in education and a rise in poor mental and physical child health. There is an increasing focus on realising child rights and a need for better recognition of the agency and voice of all children. There remains a system misalignment between early childhood and the experiences children have in formal primary school. The age of technology continues to evolve with adults and children using screens and living indoors for extended periods of time and establishing different connections.

These are just some of the transitions that face families and our youngest children at a critical phase in their development and there are, of course, many more. We know that our sector has enormous capacity to support children and families through transitions to support better life chances. We know that confident educators, who understand each child’s context, can provide a culturally nuanced response and meet the needs of children and families. We know that through systematic, practice-based research we can better understand the shifting complexities of early childhood.

So that is the context in which we invite you to submit applicable papers and share your ideas in a critical and rigorous but warm and friendly forum: BECERA’s 2026 conference on ‘Childhoods in Transition’.