Immigrant children in Norwegian kindergartens

This research aims to point out the main advantages, challenges, difficulties and needs that eleven pre-school teachers from seven kindergartens in Trondheim, Norway, meet in their work with immigrant children. The findings revealed that the pre-school teachers experience both personal and professional benefits when working with immigrants. The language is the most challenging element. The multiethnic environment is beneficiary for the Norwegian children, because they have the opportunity to learn about other languages, cultures and tolerance. The teachers find the interaction with the immigrant parents challenging. The communication is difficult when the immigrants do not speak Norwegian. Besides, the parents do not know or understand the Norwegian educational system. The cultural differences between the locals and the immigrants are sometimes problematic. The cultural differences are ranged from educational needs, timing, eating habits, until family structure. The Norwegian cultural mark of living in connection with the nature might raise controversies among some of the immigrants.