This study reports results concerning close embodied practices, involving touch, in early childhood care settings in Sweden during the COVID‐19 pandemic. The data—video recordings of everyday practices in contexts of childcare—were collected during various phases of the pandemic. The study demonstrates a broad range of uses of touch, by adults and children themselves in various age groups and for various social purposes. Touch as embodied intimacy was initiated by educators, and by children, both within their peer group and towards educators. Touch served the purposes of embodied intimacy, emotion regulation, social affiliation, social control, instructions and play. We highlight the detailed ways in which practitioners' actions sustain children's bodily integrity and provide them with embodied agency, participation and learning. Professional touch practices with young children are discussed in the context of ‘no‐touch’ views in social work and care work with children. It is suggested that insights into the social and emotional uses of institutional touch can inform social work practice, especially child and family social work, and residential care.

中文翻译：

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机构接触在幼儿关系照顾中的社会和情感功能

本研究报告了 COVID-19 大流行期间瑞典幼儿保育机构中涉及触摸的近距离实践实践的结果。这些数据——儿童保育环境中日常实践的视频记录——是在大流行的各个阶段收集的。该研究表明，不同年龄段的成人和儿童本身出于不同的社交目的，对触摸有着广泛的用途。作为亲密体现的触摸是由教育者和儿童发起的，无论是在同龄群体中还是对教育者。触摸的目的是体现亲密感、情绪调节、社会归属、社会控制、指示和游戏。我们强调从业者的行为维持儿童身体完整性并为他们提供具体的代理、参与和学习的具体方式。在社会工作和儿童护理工作中的“无接触”观点的背景下讨论了与幼儿的专业触摸实践。有人建议，对机构接触的社会和情感用途的深入了解可以为社会工作实践提供信息，特别是儿童和家庭社会工作以及寄宿护理。