Page 22 - Blue Valley_Issue 3_2022

TODAY’S CHILD

As Eagle elaborates: “Young children learn best when provided with
opportunities to ‘play’. This is where they can explore, discover and
experiment in order to make sense of the world around them. The
school and the teachers need to be cognisant of this and facilitate the
child’s personal learning journey through careful observations and by
providing meaningful and relevant learning opportunities.”

Other factors to look out for when searching for the right ECD
environment for your child include:
• Teachers who are appropriately qualified to teach in an early learning
environment;
• Teachers who have a caring and positive disposition;
• A place where the child is viewed as competent and capable;
• A place where there is a strong sense of community, where teaching is
engaging, relevant and interactive; and
• A school that follows a positive discipline policy, whereby the children
are guided positively and supported as they develop their social and
self-regulation skills.

“For parents who may be concerned about the ability of schools to adapt
to the new paradigm, rest assured that the inclusion programmes tailored
to younger minds is doable if the school adopts the right approach.
Approaches to teaching and learning in the early years – such as the
Reggio Emilia approach – are well documented and provide schools
with prime examples of best practice. Here, the emphasis is not on
equipping a school with expensive resources, but rather, on connecting
the student with natural elements in meaningful ways, providing them
with a rich learning experience. This type of approach helps the school
to reimagine and repurpose available materials, generating a host of
rich learning opportunities and possibilities,” concludes Eagle.

Young children learn best when provided with opportunities
to ’play’. This is where they can explore, discover and
experiment in order to make sense of the world around them.

20 • Issue 3 2022 • BLUE VALLEY NEWS