Young children’s language, place, and movement: Humber Museums' Partnership.

Young children’s language is entangled with place. This research explores how young children’s experiences of spaces, such as museums, galleries, and outside spaces shape the emergence of their language and communication practices.

Investigators:

Prof Abi Hackett (Sheffield Hallam University),

Dr Christina MacRae (Manchester Metropolitan University),

Dr David Ben Shannon (Manchester Metropolitan University).

Related publications:

Hackett, A., Shannon, D. B., MacRae, & MacLure, M. (2025). A little thing that returns: Refrains and young children’s sense making in museum spaces. Journal of Early Childhood Literacy. (open access)

Hackett, A., et al. (2026). Rituals, vocalisations, and creating comfortable spaces: A spatialised view of young children's language in museums. In Badwan et al. (Eds.), Language, Place, and the Body in Childhood Literacies. (link)

You can also read more about the project in this blog post:

https://abigailhackett.wordpress.com/2023/02/27/supporting-young-childrens-language-through-place-and-movement-at-humber-museums-partnerships-museums/