What is child-initiated learning?  

Children need to be given time to develop, plan and extend their learning and play.  Young children learn through first-hand, meaningful experiences and it is important they are given sustained periods of time to do this. 

Why child-initiated learning? 

Learning through play enables children to develop their imagination and flexibility of mind.  It helps to develop creative and lateral thinking as well as problem solving skills. 

Through child-initiated learning children are able to create and follow their own lines of enquiry.  This encourages communication and the language of thinking and learning.  It also gives children the opportunity to practise, repeat and apply skills.  Children are also able to make links in their learning and develop risk taking and choice making. 

Planning for child-initiated learning 

It is important that children are given opportunities and sustained lengths of time to develop and foster their own interests and ideas.  Learning should be presented in different ways and contexts to help facilitate this. 

Supporting and extending child-initiated learning 

Children should be given opportunities for making open ended choices.  They should also be encouraged to take part in new experiences and introduced to problems and ideas. 

How to facilitate child-initiated learning 

If you would like some support in ways of further developing child-initiated learning in your school or setting, please get in touch.  I can help you to ensure all children in your provision are being supported and extended through their own learning.