Over the last week we have had a few new starters in our Baby Room at ‘Natures Little Learners‘. Welcome to Bluebell, Reggie & Aria!
In this Tuff Tray invitation we introduced wooden bowls and spoons, then combined them with a few natural items, as well as unused items from around the house such as old shaving brushes and shoe polishers, to invite the children to direct their own play.
An ‘invitation to play’ is a concept derived from the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education. The Reggio philosophy encourages children to learn through exploration, by providing materials that ‘invite them to play’ in a creative and non-directive way.
Child-initiated play supports children in having ideas and being in control of their learning. It enables them to learn through first-hand experiences, allowing them to choose how to use the resources to do so. Child-led activities may start out as an adult initiated activity, however, by allowing the child space and time; the child may extend the resources and ideas given to create their own experience. It is important to strike a balance between adult led and child initiated activities to meet best the children’s outcomes.
*Sponsored Blog by Nature’s Little Learners
