Societal concerns about the effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic have largely focussed on the social groups most directly affected, such as the elderly and health workers. However, less focus has been placed on understanding the effects on other collectives, such as children. While children’s physical health appears to be less affected than the adult population, their mental health, learning and wellbeing is likely to have been significantly negatively affected during the pandemic due to the varying policy restrictions, such as withdrawal from face to face schooling, limited peer‐to‐peer interactions and mobility and increased exposure to the digital world amongst other things. Children from vulnerable social backgrounds, and especially girls, will be most negatively affected by the impact of COVID‐19, given their different intersecting realities and the power structures already negatively affecting them. To strengthen the understanding of the social determinants of the COVID‐19 crisis that unequally influence children’s health and wellbeing, this article presents a conceptual framework that considers the multiple axes of inequalities and power relations. This understanding can then be used to inform analyses and impact assessments, and in turn inform the development of effective and equitable mitigation strategies as well as assist to be better prepared for future pandemics.

This paper presents the results of a European survey that was part of a European funded project, entitled ‘Multicultural Early Childhood Education’, carried out between 2017 and 2018, in three countries: Italy, Spain, and Hungary. The goal was to explore the intercultural training needs of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) professionals, to support them to meet the needs of different children and families, with a focus on the ones with immigrant, refugee, and Roma background. It was an exploratory study about the cultural background of ECEC educators, through an analysis of their competences and training needs, with an attention to the issues of multiculturalism and interculturality. The research was focused on the ‘good practices’ promoted within the educational contexts of partner institutions. The survey was carried out through a semi-structured questionnaire, delivered to a sample of 477 practitioners and pedagogical coordinators/coaches working in ECEC services of Tuscany, Barcelona, and Budapest, collecting 260 completed questionnaires. Analysis of the data collected shows the importance of strengthening the relationship between ECEC services and immigrant families to promote the inclusion of children and their families. The analysis also shows that training and support are needed for ECEC practitioners to improve their practice in this field.

The Qui-Bot H₂O project involves developing four educational sustainable robots and their associated software. Robots are equipped with HRI features such as voice recognition and color sensing, and they possess a humanoid appearance. The project highlights the social and ethical aspects of robotics applied to chemistry and industry 4.0 at an early age. Here, we report the results of an interactive study that involved 212 students aged within the range of 3–18. Our educational robots were used to measure the backgrounds, impact, and interest of students, as well as their satisfaction after interacting with them. Additionally, we provide an ethical study of the use of these robots in the classroom and a comparison of the interactions of humanoid versus non-humanoid educational robots observed in early childhood learning. Our findings demonstrate that these robots are useful in teaching technical and scientific concepts in a playful and intuitive manner, as well as in increasing the number of girls who are interested in science and engineering careers. In addition, major impact measures generated by the project within a year of its implementation were analyzed. Several public administrations in the area of gender equality endorsed and participated in the Qui-Bot H₂O project in addition to educational and business entities.

We report a new learning approach in science and technology through the Qui-Bot H₂O project: a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary project developed with the main objective of inclusively increasing interest in computer science engineering among children and young people, breaking stereotypes and invisible social and gender barriers. The project highlights the social aspect of robotics applied to chemistry, at early ages. We successfully tested the project activities on girls between 3 to 13 years old. After taking part in the project, the users rated their interest in science and technology to be higher than before. Data collected during experiences included background information on students, measurements of the project’s impact and students’ interest in it, and an evaluation of student satisfaction of this STEM activity. The Qui-Bot H₂O project is supported by the actions of territorial public administrations towards gender equality and the contributions of humanistic and technological universities and entities which specialize in education and business.

This study examines the use of free choice in the science teaching and learning processes in early ages within the formal school context. It begins by introducing and defining the concept of an Inclusive Free-Choice Science Space (IFCSS). Following this, the paper presents and provides theoretical support to those key aspects considered essential for ensuring the educational validity from both learning and inclusion perspectives. Drawing on this theoretical foundation and on the authors' own experience in designing and implementing such spaces in various contexts, the paper outlines and justifies the essential elements that an IFCSS should incorporate. Also presents the design implications stemming from these elements. These essential components are then distilled into a set of recommendations for the spatial design, materials, and objectives of the activities included within these spaces. Finally, the discussion reflects on the critical role those adult facilitators play in ensuring the effective functionality of an IFCSS. Attending to each of these aspects should facilitate the implementation of inclusive science spaces that foster scientific learning from early childhood. Este trabajo aborda el uso de la libre elección para la enseñanza-aprendizaje de las ciencias desde edades tempranas y en el contexto formal de la escuela. En primer lugar, se introduce y define qué es un Espacio de Ciencia Inclusivo de Libre Elección (ECILE). A continuación, se presentan y fundamentan teóricamente los aspectos que se consideran clave para asegurar su validez educativa desde las perspectivas del aprendizaje y de la inclusión. En base a esa fundamentación y a la propia experiencia de los autores en el diseño e implementación de este tipo de espacios en diferentes contextos, se describen y justifican los elementos clave que deben estar presentes en un ECILE, y las implicaciones que de ellos se derivan en cuanto a diseño del espacio. A su vez, estos elementos se concretan en un conjunto de recomendaciones respecto al propio diseño del espacio, y del material y los objetivos de las propuestas que incluye. Finalmente, se reflexiona sobre el relevante papel que juega la persona adulta (maestros y maestras) para la funcionalidad de un ECILE. La atención a todos estos aspectos facilitará la implementación de espacios de ciencia inclusivos que promuevan los aprendizajes científicos desde edades tempranas.