Vibrancy of childhood things: Power, philosophy, and political ecology of matter

Abstract

In this article, we explore the "vibrancy of matter" and "things" in early childhood education. We use Bennett's and others' ideas on the political ecology of place in a philosophical examination of vibrant entanglements of "things," "thing-hoods," and childhoods. We work with Bennett's challenge to shift from thinking solely about "think-power" to also consider "thing-power" and "thing-hood" to take the call for-of things seriously within young children's place. Matter has agency that behaves in non-predictable ways, in assemblages, aggregates of powers, and forces and things impacting, shaping, and molding other matter and things. Children's daily connectedness with this vibrancy of matter..