Young children require
- a safe, secure, healthy and stimulating environment where there is adequate supervision
- opportunities to investigate; satisfy their curiosity; explore the environment inside and outside the playroom; extend their sense of wonder; experience success and develop a positive attitude towards learning
- appropriate periods of time for learning through sustained involvement in play
- interaction with sensitive and understanding adults. It is important that children feel secure in their relationships with adults and that they know that the adults are there to support them
- adults who will treat them as individuals and sensitively participate in their play
- opportunity to learn without experiencing a sense of failure
Curriculum
Given these needs it follows that young children require a curriculum which:
- meets their physical, social, emotional and cognitive needs at their particular stage of development
- motivates, challenges and stimulates them
- is broad and balanced
The curriculum should allow children to make choices and provide them with opportunities, through play and other experiences, to develop the learning associated with:
- personal, social and emotional development
- physical development
- creative/aesthetic development
- language development
- early mathematical experiences
- early experiences in science and technology
- knowledge and appreciation of the environment