This study examines children's trajectories of constructing existential resilience and well-being in early childhood. Resilience has a central role in maintaining sustainable well-being in difficult situations. At present, not only the pandemic and climate crisis but also the war have contributed to many children's existential anxiety also in Finland. The study utilizes Constructivist Grounded Theory for building a model for understanding and supporting young children's existential resilience and well-being. The data will be gathered from 2-6-year-old children in Finnish Early Childhood Education and Care, creating material with tablet computers on what is meaningful and important to them. The aim is to gather data from 60 children over three years (T1-T3), and also to test a resilience building intervention in one of the ECEC units. The project results will provide knowledge on young children's existential resilience and well-being, to inform research, policy and practice.

2023

2027