The Butterfly Model

The focal point in the Butterfly project is to develop the Butterfly Model (BM) which works on two levels. BM represents a basic understanding on the child, and provides concrete and useful tools for the transition of children with special needs or in vulnerable situations to ECEC institutions:

• The scope is based on fundamental democratic values about inclusion and human rights. The model insists on taking a child perspective and to perceive even very young children as agentic in the transition process.
• The toolkit is culturally sensitive and works on an operational level in children’s transition from home to ECEC institution.

A “tool” is defined, e.g. as an observation form with a focus on children’s relations to staff and peers in the ECEC institution, mapping of local resource persons/institutions/organizations (NGO, sports club, school, cultural center, church) and templates for dialogue with family/parents.