Early Childhood Education and Care in times of Corona

The paper discusses the situation of Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in Germany against the background of the COVID-19-pandemic. First, the effects of the pandemic and the measures to control the number of infections such as preschool closures and social restrictions on families and children are described. Relevant empirical findings to support the assumptions are summarized. Following up on this, the situations of ECEC settings and early childhood professionals are highlighted. Concluding, possibilities to handle the emerged challenges are outlined and potential positive developments for the system of ECEC are described.