Wild Pedagogies in early childhood education in Denmark. Change processes and pedagogical dilemmas.

This article explores and discusses the change processes and pedagogical dilemmas ignited by introducing wild pedagogies to pedagogical employees in Danish early childhood institutions. By analyzing experiments aimed at developing new play and learning environments, carried out as part of a large design-based research project, we discuss how existing ‘roots’ of early childhood education in Denmark provide a fertile soil for the introduction of wild pedagogies. We identify two ‘shoots of change’ with a potential for pushing the status quo in relations between children, adults, and more-than-human nature. Centering on altering the place of nature in early childhood education and carving out time for more open approaches, these shoots are in close dialogue with wild pedagogies. By experimenting with these shoots of change, pedagogical dilemmas became more visible, important, and present to the participants. Attending to and exploring such dilemmas are crucial aspects of keeping socio-cultural change processes in motion.