The Child Initiated Approach

The Child Initiated Approach is embedded in the fundamental principle of respecting children as natural researchers and motivated learners who actively seek knowledge and learning. The approach views educators (people in the child’s environments) as learners and facilitators of children’s learning by working in collaboration and partnership with children in response to their many and varied learning opportunities. It respects the family as the child’s first teacher.

The application of the Child Initiated Approach in child care translated into educators focusing on the process of development and learning and the acquisition of skills rather than achievement of set outcomes and is guided by principles that include:

• Respect for children
• Child focused routines and rituals
• Respecting children as component learners and natural researchers
• Educators facilitating children’s development and learning through play based learning environments whereby children learning experiences enable them to hypothesis, problem solving and develop conflict resolution skills
• Creating play based environments from the child’s perspective
• Educators capturing ordinary play moments with children for extraordinary development and learning opportunities
• Educators as researchers and learners for children
• Working collaboratively with families
• Working collaboratively with the community

• Early Learning & Development Service
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