Capture a Child's Curiosity for Life!

Never get tired of answering the ceaseless "why?", "what 'dat'?", "how come?" and "what if.." questions every child has.

If you don't know the answer to their questions be prepared to say  "I don't know I'll have to google it." or "Lets look it up in an encyclopedia, shall we?". The best answer to encourage their continued active exploration is "Well what do you think?" instead of giving them an instant anwer. Remember children will know if they are fobbed off with a lame answer because you don't know the real one.

Show an active interest in their converstations. Children will very quickly pick up if you are bored by their talk or only passively listen. If you have this attitude of fostering children's wonder for their world and environment you are well on your way to capturing a child's curiosity for lifelong learning!

For more information you may be interested in reading the following article:

Let's talk! Having meaningful conversations with children by Dr Ann Kennedy

http://www.ncac.gov.au/pcf/Meaningful_conversations_Dec09.pdf

(Image copyright and permissions from Tarry Home blog.)

For further clarification (emphasis added) note that ...

The Code of Ethics (Early Childhood Australia) states on page three that:

I. In relation to children, I will:
4. Work with children to help them understand that they are
global citizens with shared responsibilities to the environment
and humanity.
8. Acknowledge the uniqueness and potential of all children,
in recognition that enjoying their childhood without undue
pressure is important.
9. Acknowledge the holistic nature of children’s learning and the
significance of children’s cultural and linguistic identities.
11. Acknowledge children as competent learners, and build active
communities of engagement and inquiry.
12. Honour children’s right to play, as both a process and context
for learning.

And Belonging Being and Becoming says regarding...
...Responsiveness to children
"Educators are responsive to all children’s strengths, abilities and interests. They value and build on children’s strengths, skills and knowledge to ensure their motivation and engagement in learning..."
p.14  Belonging Being and Becoming (Early Years Learning Framework for Australia)

...Intentional teaching
"Intentional teaching is deliberate, purposeful and thoughtful. Educators who engage in intentional teaching recognise that learning occurs in social contexts and that interactions and conversations are vitally important for learning. They actively promote children’s learning through worthwhile and challenging experiences and interactions that foster high-level thinking skills. They use strategies such as modelling and demonstrating, open questioning, speculating, explaining, engaging in shared thinking and problem solving to extend children’s thinking and learning. Educators move fl exibly in and out of different roles and draw on different strategies as
the context changes. They plan opportunities for intentional teaching and knowledge-building. They document and monitor children’s learning."
p. 15 Belonging Being and Becoming (Early Years Learning Framework for Australia)

Website links
 The Code of Ethics (Early Childhood Australia)
Online:
http://www.earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/code_of_ethics/early_childhood_australias_code_of_ethics.html
PDF:
http://earlychildhoodaustralia.org.au/pdf/code_of_ethics/code_of_ethics_web.pdf

Early Years Learning Framework (National Quality Framework, DEEWR website)
Online:
http://www.deewr.gov.au/earlychildhood/policy_agenda/quality/pages/earlyyearslearningframework.aspx#key%20documents  


Belonging Being and Becoming (Early Years Learning Framework for Australia)
Pdf download:
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Earlychildhood/Policy_Agenda/Quality/Documents/Final%20EYLF%20Framework%20Report%20-%20WEB.pdf