Knowledge-based Efforts for Socially Disadvantaged Children in Day-care

[Side på Dansk/In Danish]

The research project ‘Knowledge-based Efforts for Socially Disadvantaged Children in Day-care’ (VIDA) explores the overall research question: How can Danish general day-care improve socially disadvantaged children’s opportunities in life?

This comprehensive research project examines and documents which of two types of pedagogical interventions in general day-care are most effective at improving the learning and well-being of socially disadvantaged children. The overall goal of this effort is to stimulate children’s personal, linguistic and social competences as well as their logical understanding.

Intervention format

The research project comprises some 6,000 children in 120 day-care centers across four municipalities in Denmark. The intervention will thus be implemented in an inclusive environment; i.e. the ordinary day-care environment that is shared with other children. Two types of efforts are tested in this project. To be able to compare the two, the participating day-care centers are divided into three groups. In one group, focus is on the children’s well-being and learning (i.e. the VIDA basis model program). In another group, focus is on parental involvement as well as the children’s well-being and learning (i.e. the VIDA basis + parent model program). A third group of day-care centers is left to continue with their ordinary practice (i.e. the control group).                      

The project has been commissioned and is financed by the Danish Ministry of Social Affairs.