Young Carers in Early Childhood – Scoping Review How Are Young Carers Represented in Broader Literature and What Factors Influence Dominant Representations of Young Carers in Early Childhood in the UK?

Background: The contextualization of young carers in early childhood is complex. The biopsychosocial impacts of young care-giving have received growing interest in recent years, yet the voice and experience of society’s youngest carers (0-5yrs) remain absent from literature. Aim: This scoping review is an initial step in quilting together a polyvocal investigation of society's youngest carers. It is intended to map the current qualitative knowledge base concerned with the lived experiences of the youngest carers in the UK. In this case, the review explores representation of young carers in their early years (0-5 years). The review is presented as part of a broader program of PhD research undertaken by the lead author, exploring the lived experiences of young carers throughout early childhood (0-8yrs.) (European Early Childhood Education Research Journal (EECERJ), 2019). The objective is to influence systematic change in the way young carers are perceived and supported in society. As such, influencing further research which better informs future development of whole family support in the context of young carer policy and practice. As a result, including this age group to improve the evidence base of this cohort. Method: This Scoping review has been undertaken following JBI guidance for scoping reviews (Pollock et al., 2023). A priori protocol was developed and published (Systematic-Review-Register - Systematic Review Register | Joanna Briggs Institute, 2024-02-29) (JBI, 2024). A comprehensive literature search included publications dated 2014-2024 in Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, Eric, Web of Science, and Carers Trust and NSPCC websites. A manual search of reference lists, including existing systematic reviews concerning young carers, were undertaken. An independent reviewer screened 10% of all articles including title, abstract and participant age range where indicated in methodologies. Results were discussed with knowledge users, and content experts with lived experience of caring in early childhood, at all stages of the review process. This included defining the aims, sharing articles and data for consideration, and concluding results (Pollock et al., 2022). Results: A comprehensive search of the literature yielded no studies which met the inclusion criteria of this scoping review. The absence of relevant research highlights a significant gap in knowledge regarding the way in which the lived experiences of young carers in early childhood are represented and understood. Narrative analysis explores themes from excluded articles and broader literature. Themes are discussed concerning young carer representation, along with implications for misrepresentation of legislative rights afforded to young carers in the UK. Having deeper insight into the significance of early child development helps to frame understanding and broaden perceptions of young carers throughout society. Challenging existing perceptions of how children be and become young carers during early childhood affords greater opportunity for early identification and prevention of perceived inappropriate caring responsibility. In addition, research which acknowledges early life experience in the context of young caregiving helps to influence change in practice, policy, and develop strategies, which serve to mitigate risk and foster resilience with young carers of all ages, beginning in the early years.