Lecturer

I am a mother to two young children and an advocate for children’s rights. I am particularly interested in the dynamic ways diverse children advocate and make space for themselves in their daily lives, as well as the ways caregivers transform space through their courage to care well for children in a world that does not care well for many.

I have worked directly with young people in a variety of capacities and contexts for over 20 years and all of my professional work is driven by a desire to support others in relating to all children as complete people worthy of dignity and respect. Currently, I am a Lecturer in the Department of Child and Youth Study at Mount Saint Vincent University and in this role, I aim to create learning spaces with my students that prioritize care and connection and challenge colonial norms.

Education

MA Child and Youth Study (2016) Mount Saint Vincent University

BSocSc. with honours (2010) University of Ottawa (International Development & Globalization)

Research & Teaching Interests

  • Childism
  • Care as resistance
  • Children’s rights
  • Space created for and by young people (the tensions)
  • Research as resistance
  • Decolonizing research & practices
  • Arts-based research & practices

Selected Publications

Hansen, T. (2023). Early Childhood Education: Nature & outdoor play. OER Commons. https://caul-cbua.pressbooks.pub/earlychildhood/?fbclid=IwAR3

Hansen, T. (2014). Towards understanding: Considerations on experiences of youth. Journal of Relational Child & Youth Care Practice, 27(3), 10-12.

Selected Presentations

Hansen, T. (2023). Returning to Care. The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI Fall Conference, November 18, 2023.

Hansen, T. (2023). Who am I with Children? Reflecting on our Image of the Child and Professional Identity. The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI Fall Conference, November 17, 2023.

Hansen, T. (2022). Who am I with Children during Mealtime? Reflecting on our Image of the Child and Professional Identity in Context. The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI Fall Conference, November 4, 2022.

Hansen, T. (2020). Fostering Children’s Relationships with Nature. The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI Fall Conference, November 12, 2020.

Hansen, T. (2020). The Scream! Digging Deeper into How We Respond to Children’s Screams. The Early Childhood Development Association of PEI Fall Conference, November 13, 2020.