The Materiality of Kinship

This chapter investigates the dynamics of informal mentoring within early years settings in Scotland, drawing on data from doctoral research and framed through posthuman, feminist materialist (PHFM) theories. It explores how professional identities of early years practitioners are shaped by their emotional labor and the significance of place, space, and kinship in fostering resilience. This study stems from the author’s personal experiences as a qualified primary teacher, which revealed the social injustices faced by working-class women in the childcare sector. By examining the informal, relational practices of care among practitioners at Fortgrange, a local authority-run nursery, this chapter highlights how these mentoring relationships, though often overlooked, transcend professional boundaries and intertwine the personal and professional realms. It further emphasizes the importance of the materiality of relationships and the iterative assemblages within which they occur, revealing how the flow of affect and shared experiences contribute to the ongoing narrative of community and professional development. Ultimately, this exploration challenges traditional understandings of mentoring by situating it within a broader socio-material context that values the interconnectedness of human and more-than-human relationships.