Initiative and Curiosity - Approaches to Learning: Ages 3-5

Widely Held Expectations

• Child uses initiative, curiosity and persistence to learn about the world
  
  • Carries out complex and varied sequences of activities independently
  • Explores ways to use new materials
• Child engages in imaginative play
• Child increasingly uses communication to ask questions and seek answers

Learning in Action: Examples

The Child

• Asks adults to read stories, signs, or notes
• Participates with different art materials, dramatic play, and puzzles/toys/blocks
• Shows a willingness to listen to a new story or song
• Notices new displays and discusses them with the adult
• Asks questions about new materials in science area
• Tries alternative methods to solve a problem and is highly involved and persistent

The Adult

• Experiences the outside world with children
• Asks open-ended questions to engage children’s imagination (require more than a one-word answer)
• Responds to children’s curiosity and questions with enthusiasm and encouragement
• Asks questions and helps children find answers through active, hands-on exploration
• Sets up activities and materials for exploration

The Environment Includes

• A safe, natural space for children to visit and explore
• Opportunities for sand and water play, clay, paints, markers, books and blocks