*Carol B. Pagaran and Regina P. Galigao (Authors)
Abstract
This comparative study examines the alignment of the Frog Street early childhood curriculum with national curriculum frameworks and instructional approaches from three countries in each of six continents: North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Oceania. Using qualitative document analysis and thematic coding, the research highlights similarities and differences in curriculum design, pedagogical strategies, and cultural contexts. Findings indicate that while Frog Street reflects global best practices in whole-child, play-based learning, effective international adaptation requires contextualization to local language, cultural values, and teacher autonomy. The study contributes to the discourse on global curriculum transferability and the need for culturally responsive pedagogy.
Keywords: Early childhood education, Frog Street, curriculum frameworks, comparative education, global education
DOI: http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS04032910
Recommended citation
Pagaran, C.B. & Galigao, R.P. (2025). A comparative analysis of Frog Street curriculum frameworks and instructional approaches across early childhood education systems in six continents. Pantao: International Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences, 4 (3), 3349-3357. http://doi.org/10.69651/PIJHSS04032910
Read the full text
References
Bernal, R., & Camacho, A. (2018). Early childhood education in Colombia: An analysis of the De Cero a Siempre policy. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, 12(1), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40723-018-0047-8
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2019). Reflecting on reflexive thematic analysis. Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 11(4), 589–597. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676X.2019.1628806
Campos, M. M., Rosemberg, F., & Ferreira, M. P. (2011). Early childhood care and education in Brazil. International Journal of Child Care and Education Policy, 5(1), 49–61. https://doi.org/10.1007/2288-6729-5-1-49
Cherrington, S., & Thornton, K. (2023). Teachers as curriculum decision-makers: Pedagogical leadership and teacher agency in early childhood education. Early Years, 43(2), 204–217. https://doi.org/10.1080/09575146.2020.1764503
Department of Basic Education. (2015). National curriculum framework for children from birth to four. Republic of South Africa. https://wcedonline.westerncape.gov.za/documents/ECD/ncf.pdf
Department for Education. (2021). Statutory framework for the early years foundation stage: Setting the standards for learning, development and care for children from birth to five. UK Government. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/974907/EYFS_framework_-_March_2021.pdf
Department of Education (DepEd). (2016). Kindergarten curriculum guide. Republic of the Philippines. https://www.deped.gov.ph/k-to-12/kindergarten/
Early Childhood Commission. (2014). National early childhood curriculum: Guide for early childhood practitioners. Government of Jamaica. https://ecc.gov.jm
Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (Eds.). (2012). The hundred languages of children: The Reggio Emilia experience in transformation (3rd ed.). Praeger.
Frog Street Press. (2023). Frog Street Pre-K curriculum overview. Frog Street Press. https://www.frogstreet.com
Ghana Education Service. (2019). Kindergarten curriculum guide. Ministry of Education, Ghana.
Government of Ontario. (2014). How does learning happen? Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years. Ministry of Education. https://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/pedagogy.html
Heikka, J., Waniganayake, M., &Hujala, E. (2019). Contextualizing distributed leadership within early childhood education: Current understandings, research evidence, and future challenges. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 47(4), 539–555. https://doi.org/10.1177/1741143217745889
Karila, K., &Nummenmaa, A. R. (2021). Early childhood education and care in Finland. In M. Urban, A. Cardini, R. Flórez-Romero, J. Guevara, & J. Pacheco (Eds.), Comparative early childhood education services (pp. 121–135). Springer.
Kilderry, A., Blaise, M., & Taylor, A. (2023). Reimagining early childhood curriculum in times of social and environmental uncertainty. Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood, 24(1), 7–20. https://doi.org/10.1177/14639491221135570
Lynch, J., &Pankratz, M. (2018). Language, culture and early education in Papua New Guinea: Challenges for teachers and children. International Journal of Early Years Education, 26(1), 19–33. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669760.2017.1369392
Melhuish, E., Ereky-Stevens, K., Petrogiannis, K., Ariescu, A., Penderi, E., Rentzou, K., &Leseman, P. (2021). A review of research on the effects of early childhood education and care (ECEC) upon child development. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 29(4), 505–524. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2021.1928720
Ministerio de Educación (MINEDUC). (2018). Bases curriculares de la educaciónparvularia. Gobierno de Chile. https://parvularia.mineduc.cl
Ministry of Education, New Zealand. (2017). TeWhāriki: Early childhood curriculum. https://tewhariki.tki.org.nz
Ministry of Education (MOE), Singapore. (2013). Nurturing early learners: A curriculum framework for kindergartens in Singapore. https://www.nel.moe.edu.sg/
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan. (2018). Course of study for kindergarten. https://www.mext.go.jp/en/
Murray, J., Elwick, A., &Windisch, H. C. (2019). The contribution of early childhood education to a sustainable society. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 27(5), 551–563. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2019.1668913
National Commission for Science, Technology and Innovation (NACOSTI). (2020). Competency-based curriculum: Early years education.
Pacini-Ketchabaw, V., & Pence, A. R. (2023). Curriculum as living inquiry in diverse contexts: Re-envisioning early childhood education. Journal of Early Childhood Research, 21(1), 25–38. https://doi.org/10.1177/1476718X231159273
Tesar, M. (2019). Children’s participation and teacher autonomy in early childhood curriculum: Tensions and possibilities in a changing world. Journal of Curriculum Studies Research, 1(2), 54–66. https://doi.org/10.46303/jcsr.2019.5
Urban, M., Cardini, A., Flórez-Romero, R., Guevara, J., & Pacheco, J. (2022). Toward a global policy agenda for equitable early childhood education. International Journal of Early Childhood, 54(1), 5–20. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13158-022-00303-w
Wasik, B. A., Hindman, A. H., & Snell, E. K. (2020). Improving preschool classroom processes: An evaluation of the Making the Most of Classroom Interactions professional development approach. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 50, 147–160. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecresq.2019.04.002
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE.