CHACDOC Conference: Perspectives on a good life for children

4-6 October 2026

Venue: Konventum, Erling Jensens Vej 1, 3000 Helsingør/Elsinore, Denmark

Tlf: +49280900

Organizers

• Louise Bøttcher, Associate Professor Aarhus University
• Ditte Winther-Lindqvist, Professor, Aarhus University and UNESCO chair
• Marilyn Fleer, Honorary Professor at Danish School of Education, Aarhus University
• Mariane Hedegaard, Professor Emerita, Copenhagen University 

CHACDOC: Cultural-Historical Approaches to Children's Development and Childhood

The purpose of this section within ISCAR is to create a forum for researchers who are interested in studying children’s development and childhood. Developmental psychology has often been characterised historically as the study of ‘the general child’, with a focus on developing models that can be used to evaluate individual children’s development. Childhood studies have focused on the study of children anchored in historical time and settings; such approaches are more commonly found within anthropological and sociological traditions, especially those that focus on situated and localised practice with children. Cultural-historical approaches seek to unite the general principles in relation to historical time and place.

CHACDOC 2026 Theme: Perspectives on a good life for children

The aim of the conference is to explore what is a good life for children, where the dynamics between children’s social situation and social situation of development is considered. A central theme to be explored at the conference is how societal norms and values contribute to creating a child’s zone of proximal development in everyday life.

One question could examine how the child enters into social relations with others, becoming more consciously aware of self and other? Another question to discuss could be how children participating in central activities and cultural practices are supported in the development of the child as a person through education and upbringing?

The conference welcomes oral presentations and symposia. PhD students are welcome to participate with poster presentations that will include a scheduled short oral presentation.

Program

Sunday
16-17.30	Registration
18.00-19.00	Dinner
	Welcome/ Moderator:	Louise Bøttcher, Aarhus University, Denmark
19.30 – 20.20	Being, belonging and becoming in childhood	Mariane Hedegaard, Copenhagen University , Denmark Marilyn Fleer, Monash University, Australia
20.20 – 20.35	Coffee
20.35 - 21.30	Discussion	Discussants:
21.30	Relaxation in the bar

 

Monday
9.00	Moderator	Louise Bøttcher
9.05	Researching young children’s perspectives on a good life through analyzing drawings	Ditte Winther-Lindqvist, Aarhus University, Denmark
9.30	Discussion
10.00	Coffee break
10.10	Two parallel sessions
10.40	Discussion
11.10	Coffee break
11.20	Two parallel sessions
11.50	Discussion
12.20	Lunch
13.30	Play complexity and the sense of collectiveness in the early years	Juliana Campregher Pasqualini,, Monash University, Australia
14.00	Discussion
14.30	Poster and coffees
15.00	Poster presentations led by Mariane Hedegaard & Marilyn Fleer asking four questions: What is aim of your research? What is the method/concepts used? What is the result? What impact can/do the results have?	Poster-presenters will display their posters, and the discussants will ask the four key questions. A general discussion will be held at the conclusion of the presentation.
16.15	Free time
18.00	Conference dinner
20.00	Music and dance

 

Tuesday
9.00	Practical information/moderator	Ditte Winther-Lindqvist
9.05	A critical exploration into the interplay between biologically based differences and diagnostic concepts. Are bio-medical diagnoses related to the diagnostic of age development formulated by Vygotsky? Or do we need an alternative conceptualization that captures the unity of the child’s specific impairment, the secondary disability and the meaning-making and problem-solving of the child?	Louise Bøttcher
9.30	Discussion
10.00	Coffee break
10.10	Parallelle sessioner
11.10	Coffee break
11.20	Parallel sessions
11.40	Discussion
12.20	Lunch
13.30	Play, Imagination, and Human Development in Disability Research: Insights from Vygotskian Studies	Daniele Nunes Henrique Silva,   - University of Brasilia
14.00	Discussion
14.30	Coffees
14.40	Parallel sessions
15.10	Discussion
16.20	Closing comments

Registration

Conference fee: 5650 dkr/ 760 Euro.

The conference fee covers venue, single room for two nights at Konventum, all meals and refreshments.

Registration presupposes membership of ISCAR.