Chloe Keegan

    Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education

    Lecturer

    About

    Chloe Keegan is Lecturer of Early Childhood Education in the Froebel Department of Primary and Early Childhood Education in Maynooth University, Ireland.

    Through her multifaceted roles as an early years educator, manager, online course content developer, researcher and early childhood specialist for the early years sector, Chloe has utilised her decade of experience to advocate for children's rights, conducting extensive research, and contributing to policy development in various educational contexts. She has played a pivotal role in influencing practice and regulatory guidelines particularly related to risk, play and participation for early childhood education. Her doctoral thesis was completed in Maynooth University where her interests related to play, children’s participation, power dynamics and neoliberalism in early childhood education contributed to the development of an innovative research method that positioned children as co-researchers using GoPro cameras to explore their experiences of power within an early years setting. Other research areas of interest include exploring the impact of play bans on children’s wellbeing, moral development, the influence of stereotypical media on children’s views on gender, sex and race, participatory art-based methods in children’s research and video-based reflective practices.

    Conference contributions

    • Keegan, C. (2023). Tools for Tots: Exploring Irish children's experiences of real tool use in the early years sector. European Early Childhood Education Research Association (EECERA) Conference. Lisbon, Portugal.
    • Keegan, C (2020). "Batman Can't Wear a Skirt - He's a Boy!" An investigation into how children’s drawings are influenced by gender, race and sexuality stereotyping presented in superhero media. LICE (London International Conference on Education. Online/London, UK.
    • Keegan, C. (2019). The impact of banning superhero play on the child who wants to be Batman. THRIECE (Teaching for Holistic, Relational and Inclusive Early Childhood Education) Conference. Carlow, Ireland.
    Research
    • Play
    • Power
    • Children’s Rights
    • Contemporary Issues in Education
    • Research Methods in Children’s Research

     

    • Keegan, C. (2019). "Batman Can't Wear a Skirt - He's a Boy!" An investigation into how children’s drawings are influenced by gender, race and sexuality stereotyping presented in superhero media. Masters in Child, Family and Youth Studies Dissertation. Carlow IT, Carlow.
    • Keegan, C. (2018). Is Batman a Hero or a Villian? An investigation into 4-12 year old children's moral perceptions of heroes and villians. BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Education and Care Dissertation. Carlow IT, Carlow.

    Other journals

    • Keegan, C. (2024). A Journey Towards Adventurous Play: Rethinking Our Relationship with Risk. Childhood Times. Spring 2024.
    • Keegan, C. (2023). Finding the Balance: Where Safety and Adventure Can Coexist. Early Pedagogy. Summer 2023.
    • Keegan, C. (2023). Outdoor Play: Practical Ideas. Scéalta. Dublin: Early Childhood Ireland.
    • Keegan, C. (2022). The Relationship Between Our Buildings and Our Outdoors. Scéalta. Dublin: Early Childhood Ireland.
    • Keegan, C. (2022). Sir Ken Robinson: A giant on whose shoulders I stand on. Scéalta. Dublin: Early Childhood Ireland.
    • Keegan, C. (2021). Why Movement Matters for Babies. Scéalta. Dublin: Early Childhood Ireland.

    Teaching

    • Child development
    • Child psychology
    • Human growth and development
    • Social, health and legal studies
    • Leadership
    • Special education
    • Supervision
    • Curriculum development