This book brings together cutting-edge, international research exploring the often-overlooked emotional labour of early childhood educators. Spanning diverse national contexts, the book reveals how emotional labour is shaped by organizational climates, cultural values, and broader systems – moving beyond traditional, individual-level analyses.

Featuring qualitative methodologies, the collection offers nuanced, culturally informed perspectives on emotional labour, as well as practical insights to support organisations, leaders and educators in managing the complex emotional demands of their work. Theoretical contributions and redefinitions further challenge conventional thinking, positioning emotional labour as skilled work central to early childhood education.

Essential reading for researchers, educators and policymakers, this book offers fresh insights into a critical yet understudied dimension of educational practice.

Tamara Cumming is an Associate Professor and Associate Director for Workforce and Policy at the Children's Voices Centre, Charles Sturt University Australia. Her research focuses on educator well-being, the complexity of early childhood practice, and the sustainability of the early childhood workforce.

Mari Saha is an Associate Professor in early childhood education at the Faculty of Education and Culture, Tampere University, Finland. Her main research interests are diverse needs in early years, early childhood educators’, and leaders’ work-related well-being, as well as children’s stress regulation and well-being in ECE settings.