How young people learn
Everyone learns best when they can select their particular area of interest.
Research shows that young children learn best by exploring, trying things out, finding out what works and what doesn’t. Young children learn best through playing in an environment created for their learning were their interests are supported rather than just having information “told to them”.
The kindergarten provides a learning environment that allows children to choose the areas where they want to learn. Children will always choose to play in an area which is relevant to their current interests. By doing this they learn a wide range of skills, knowledge, attitudes and learning dispositions as they work alongside other children and adults.
An example of this may be that a child who chooses to play in the sandpit a lot of the time. The child is possibly learning to negotiate, plan, communicate, listen and understand, share, to make and keep friends, how to lead and follow in a group, how to recognise and control emotions. Working with sand, water and equipment this child may develop skills in problem solving, creating, planning, sequencing, understanding concepts and physical skills.
Along with this learning, the child who plays in the sandpit is also learning the beginnings of learning to read write and do maths. Teachers working alongside the child might talk about what the child is doing and support the child to extend their thinking and to understand the concepts that are the basis for later learning happens in all areas of the kindergarten.
To learn best children need the opportunity to explore. During their creative processes children need to be able to follow their inspirations without worrying about keeping clean and dry.
Teachers make every effort to ensure that children’s wellbeing is nurtured and children are supported to change their clothes if necessary.
Previous article:
How to help your child settle into kindergarten
Next article:
Play dough recipe
Categories
Parenting Tips & Advice