Page 18 - IFV_Issue 6_2022

Today’s Child

When looking for an early learning
campus, parents should search for a school
that is not only aesthetically pleasing but,
more importantly, where the child’s well-
being is placed at the forefront.
“Young children learn best when
provided with opportunities to ‘play’ –
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 things 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
• Where the school follows a positive
discipline policy – where 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, they can be reassured
that the inclusion of the younger years
into their programmes is doable if the
right approach is followed. 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 connecting the student with
natural elements in meaningful ways, with
rich learning experiences, and helping
the school to reimagine and repurpose
available materials – resulting in rich
learning opportunities and possibilities,”
Eagle concludes.

16 • Issue 6 2022 • The Villager