Children are learning from the moment of birth. They learn to move, manipulate, to communicate, to interact with others, to solve problems, to understand how things work. They arrive at their first “school” setting as active, experienced learners. Their knowledge has been structured by their environment, their interaction with it and the involvement of the adults around. It is the responsibility of the early childhood classroom to continue this natural process of learning at school. It is the responsibility of the early childhood professional to create an environment that allows for active exploration and involvement in materials, concepts and experiences. In this setting, children are respected for their ability to structure their own learning, with the support of early childhood professionals knowledgeable in how children grow and develop.
