737 Steenbuck Drive, Campbell River, BC, V9W 7J9
Early Childhood Education And Care Philosophy Statement
When developing a philosophy of Early Childhood Education and Care, I consider my image of the child. I visualize my image of the child and I ask myself, “how do I perceive children?”. I believe children are individuals with rights. Children have rights to quality programs, educators, and environments. Children have the right to be heard and respected. Children are capable and are active participants in their learning. Christie Burnette (2019) shares this quote by L. Stanley, “Children are natural researchers as they question what they see, hypothesise solutions, predict outcomes, experiment, and reflect on their discoveries. Children are not passive, empty vessels waiting to be filled; rather, they are self-motivated learners actively seeking to understand the complex world in which they live.” It is from this very image of the child that shapes my philosophy on practice.
The Early Learning Framework (2008) asserts that “Families are the primary caregivers of children and have the most important role in promoting their children’s well-being, learning, anddevelopment in the context of supportive communities” (P 15). I Believe it is the role of the ECE to support rather than to lead families and their children. I believe in a family centered practice; this means that the ECE and the families form a partnership. Families are included and incorporated into the program; their ideas and input and valued and encouraged.
A good educator supports the child in their learning by creating a safe, child centered environment and supporting children’s interests. The environment is flexible and supports a wide array of developmental needs. I believe in emergent curriculum where the child not only has a say in their learning but is viewed as a leader. The educator spends time observing children to find their genuine interests and ideas and plans curriculum around those genuine interests to help a child dig deeper and expand their knowledge.
When it comes to guidance, my image of the child remains the same. Children are capable beings. However, it is the educator’s role to guide them by modelling or assisting with skills pertaining to problem solving, self-control, and conflict resolution. Children will learn from the children and adults around them. I believe in modelling appropriate and desired behavior. An Educator guides children’s behavior whether desirable or otherwise. A responsive educator will acknowledge desirable behavior and will not punish for mistakes or mishaps. It is the role of the educator to support the child in their journey to conquer problem solving skills.