WiseTip: AL-INI-M0818-E01A

Approaches to Learning

Promoting Initiative

Create an environment where your baby can pick and choose the activities or toys they want to play with. For example, place a toy box on the floor, or ensure that shelves containing toys are placed low enough to be within your child's reach.

1, 2, 3

Hyson, M. (2008). Enthusiastic and engaged learners: Approaches to learning in the early childhood classroom. New York: Teachers College Press and Washington DC: NAEYC.

Jones NP. (2005). BIG JOBS: Planning for competence. YC Young Children. 60(2):86-93.

Head Start. (2015). Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages birth to five. Retrieved from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/sr/approach/pdf/ohsframework.pdf

WHY IT MATTERS

Understanding children's needs for autonomy also means providing children with opporunties to make choices so that they can marshal their initiative to choose what to engage with.

Hyson, M. (2008). Enthusiastic and engaged learners: Approaches to learning in the early childhood classroom. New York: Teachers College Press and Washington DC: NAEYC.

Even very young children can cultivate initiative and persistence when they are given choices in tasks which are meaningful to them.

Jones NP. (2005). BIG JOBS: Planning for competence. YC Young Children. 60(2):86-93.

They can be offered simple choices, for example, which toy to play with and what book to read.

To develop initiative, it is helpful to place toys and materials in places where children can reach them. This way, children can have a choice of what to play with and access the toys on their own.

3, 4

Head Start. (2015). Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages birth to five. Retrieved from https://eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/hslc/hs/sr/approach/pdf/ohsframework.pdf
Hyson, M. (2005) Enthusiastic and engaged: Strengthening young children's positive approaches to learning. Young Children, 60(6), 68–70.