Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies (JSSHRS) · Research article · Open access
Intergenerational Learning and Mentoring in Early Childhood Education: Perspectives, Challenges, and a Conceptual Model for Professional Development
Rita Brito
27 April 2026 · Vol. 2, Issue 4, pp. 424-430
DOI: 10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14
Download full text (PDF)Cite this article
What is this article about?
This article proposes a reflection on intergenerational learning dynamics in early childhood education, in a context where the ageing of the Portuguese teaching workforce contrasts with the delayed entry of new professionals. An integrative review of studies published between 2018 and 2025 highlights that interaction between senior and early-career educators fosters the transmission of experiential knowledge, pedagogical innovation, and the development of digital competencies.
Article at a glance
- Published
- 27 April 2026
- Volume / issue / pages
- Vol. 2, Issue 4, pp. 424-430
- ISSN
- 3051-3561 (online) · 3051-3553 (print)
- Licence
- CC BY 4.0 — free to read and reuse with attribution
- Peer review
- Double-blind, at least two independent reviewers
- Publisher
- EP Journals Group
Abstract
This article proposes a reflection on intergenerational learning dynamics in early childhood education, in a context where the ageing of the Portuguese teaching workforce contrasts with the delayed entry of new professionals. An integrative review of studies published between 2018 and 2025 highlights that interaction between senior and early-career educators fosters the transmission of experiential knowledge, pedagogical innovation, and the development of digital competencies. Four models of practice are identified: traditional mentoring, reciprocal mentoring, intergenerational communities of practice, and organizational arrangements involving the redistribution of days off. The findings point to mutual benefits for professional identity and well-being, but also to barriers such as the lack of formal recognition of informal mentoring and the limited coordination between differentiated schedules. A replicable research protocol is also presented, which may guide future studies in the Portuguese context, contributing to the recognition of teaching as an intergenerational profession.
Keywords: early childhood education, professional development, intergenerational learning, mentoring, experiential knowledge
Cite this article
Rita Brito (2026). Intergenerational Learning and Mentoring in Early Childhood Education: Perspectives, Challenges, and a Conceptual Model for Professional Development. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(4), 424-430. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14
@article{Rita2026,
title = {Intergenerational Learning and Mentoring in Early Childhood Education: Perspectives, Challenges, and a Conceptual Model for Professional Development},
author = {Rita Brito},
journal = {Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies},
year = {2026},
volume = {2},
number = {4},
pages = {424-430},
doi = {10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14}
}Questions about this article
Who wrote this article?
Rita Brito.
Where and when was it published?
In Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, Volume 2, Issue 4, pages 424-430, published by EP Journals Group on 27 April 2026.
Is this article free to read?
Yes. It is open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 (CC BY 4.0) licence, so anyone can read, share and reuse it with attribution.
What is the DOI of this article?
10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14 (https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14).
How do I cite this article?
APA: Rita Brito (2026). Intergenerational Learning and Mentoring in Early Childhood Education: Perspectives, Challenges, and a Conceptual Model for Professional Development. Journal of Social Science and Human Research Studies, 2(4), 424-430. https://doi.org/10.65150/EP-jsshrs/V2E4/2026-14
More research from JSSHRS
- From Project-Like Activities to Project-Based Learning: Identifying PBL Characteristics in Event Management Courses at Ho Chi Minh City University of Culture
Huynh Cong Duan, Vu Thi Bich Duyen · Oct 2026
- Revisiting the Uncanny Valley in the AI Era: A Review of Visual Artifacts and Aesthetic Perceptions in AI-Generated Characters
Muhan Li · Oct 2026
- Development of Students’ Self-Learning Competence in Teaching Political Theory Subjects in the Digital Environment
Vu Thi Ha · Oct 2026
- The Double-Edged Sword of Digital Transformation in Cultural Scenic Areas: Heterogeneous Moderation of Qilu Cultural Genes on Technology-Value Conversion Paths
Xu Lulu, Tara Ahmed Mohammed · Oct 2026
- Experience in Applying Active Learning Methods in Probability and Statistics at Gia Lai Medical College
Nguyen Nhu Tram · Oct 2026