Page 42 - Waterfall_Issue 6_2022

Waterfall Today’s Child

young children with a curriculum more
suitable to older students is entirely
counter-productive,” Eagle says.

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.

40 Waterfall Issue 6 2022