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Philosophies in early childhood education
Influences on play, learning and development
Importanance of self esteem in child development
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Recommended: Philosophies in early childhood education
The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) has developed Aistear, a curriculum framework for children from birth to six years of age. This framework establishes principles and themes that are relevant in early childhood education and all early childhood services in Ireland work towards these principles and themes. Aistear was devised to support parents, early childhood practitioners and teachers in planning and providing enriching and enjoyable learning opportunities for children. Emphasising the fact that most children learn a number of different things at the same time, the Framework uses four themes to describe children's learning and development: these themes are, Well-being, Identity and Belonging, Communicating, and Exploring and Thinking. Aistear highlights the importance of play and the role of play, in relationships and language in young children's learning. In doing this, it provides a guide to using play, interactions, and partnerships with parents, and assessment to help children progress in their learning and development. In doing this, it provides a guide to using play, interactions and partnerships with parents and assessment to help children to progress in their learning and in their development. - See more at: http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Early_Childhood_and_Primary_Education/#sthash.wYiffawr.dpuf
Each theme in Aistear has different ideas and propositions for experiences. By incorporating the first theme, into early childhood education, which is the theme well-being: children in the setting will be strong not only socially but also psychologically. The children will also acquire positive viewpoints on learning and on life. The second theme is identity and belonging which assis...
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...of wellness as well as avoiding illness. People enjoy the vitality and well-being that results from their positive lifestyle changes, and are motivated to continue this process throughout their lives. (A.H.H.A,1999)
Works Cited
NDP. (2007). Aistear & Curriculum. Available: http://www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/quality-in-childcare-practice-of-childcare/aistear-and-curriculum/. Last accessed 20th Nov 2013
NCCA. (unknown). Early Childhood and Primary Education. Available: http://www.ncca.ie/en/Curriculum_and_Assessment/Early_Childhood_and_Primary_Education/. Last accessed 20th Nov 2013.
Mind Power World. (2012). Holistic Health to Boost Your Well-Being.Available: http://www.mindpowerworld.com/holistic-health-to-boost-your-well-being. Last accessed 20th Nov 2013.
Walter, S. (1999). Holistic Health. Available: http://ahha.org/rosen.htm. Last accessed 21st Nov 2013.
Interestingly it was through this process of sharing our professional experiences that we established the central idea of our exhibition. We had determined that the importance of play in the Early Years was a theme that was often debated by parents, colleagues and policy makers. By choosing this as our topic we hoped to have an enhanced understanding of the historical implications of play in Early Years Education, resulting in professional competence and the ability to guide and mentor others on the significance of play. Rodd (1996) endorses this importance of Early Years Professionals having the skills to build, establish and maintain credibility in the fast-changing sector of Early Years.
Myers & Sweeney (2008) states, the wheel of wellness is a model that is gear towards the individual’s well-being in which body, mind, and spirit are linked as one so that the client and professional can live life to the fullest within social and natural norms. In addition, resilience for professionals is to know how to cope and come out of a stressful situation without any kind of remorse. Furthermore, prevention is to prevent disastrous of one’s life. For example, an individual needs to re-evaluate his or her life on a daily basis. According to Venart & Pitcher 2007 [Myers & Sweeney (2005] states, Wellness is an aftermath and a system, a primary aspiration for existing, and a way of life.
Fain, N. C. & Lewis. N. M. (2002). Wellness: The Holistic Approach to Health. Journal of
From the perspective I have at this stage in my journey in the early childhood education field, I would like to share what I have come to value and believe in regards to early learning and care by looking at my philosophy statement. To begin we will look at the statement and highlight three key features and find out why they are important to me, then we will see what they will look like in my practice, and lastly we will examine these ideas closely by looking at where they originated. By taking an in-depth look at my philosophy statement we will better understand the motivation behind my practice which I hope to continue to refine and refresh as I gain more knowledge and experience.
Origin from a city in the north of Italy, the Reggio Emilia approach in Early Childhood Education is adopted by multi-countries over the past decades. This approach has a core philosophy, that children should play a leading role in education. Children are seen as full of knowledge and intelligence, with full capabilities to express themselves if only given the proper ways to do to so. They are protagonists of their own learning and have a say in what topics and problems they will study and research. Teachers provide resources to assistant children’s learning and developing. The curriculum is emergent, meaning the teachers choose topics and projects based on careful listening and observations of their student’s interests, needs and inquiries. Children are encouraged to use materials and media to demonstrate their learning and understanding of a topic or project. Documentations and environment have direct influences in helping children’s learning. Parents and community also play a supportive role in children education (O.E.C.D, 2004).
One of the most successful and influential early childhood educational strategies that have been used to promote children’s social and cognitive development is scaffolding. Scaffolding generally refers to the process through which adults facilitate children’s learning by enabling them achieve a level of ability beyond the child’s capacity at the time (Scarlett, 2005). This essay will discuss how scaffolding facilitates and supports meaning making in children’s play. First, the essay will briefly introduce the concept of scaffolding and its importance in children’s development. The essay will then explore various early childhood educational theories that support or acknowledge the role played by scaffolding, the view of children as learners capable of constructing meaning and the importance of teacher presence in a play based curriculum. The essay will examine scaffolding through the theoretical lens of the philosophy of Reggio Emilia, the constructivist theories of Lev Vygotsky and Jean Piaget and Howard Gardner’s Theory of Multiple Intelligences. The essay will argue that all examined theories support the role of scaffolding in facilitating and supporting meaning making in children’s play and emphasize the importance of teacher presence in all areas of the curriculum, especially in a play based curriculum.
Aistear is the Irish word for journey and is Ireland’s Curriculum framework for early childhood. It received this name as childhood is seen as the beginning of a lifelong learning journey (NCCA, 2009). Aistear recognises that early childhood forms the basis for future success; but emphasises that early childhood is a time of being rather than becoming. This framework allows for an emergent curriculum to emerge that is both challenging and enjoyable so that children can be “competent and confident learners within loving relationships with others” (NCCA, 2009, p.6). The Aistear approach is based upon a set of twelve principles which are divided into the following three groups; “children and their lives in early childhood”, “children’s connections with others”...
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is more important today than past years. With the development and improvement of myriad medicines, along with food additives and genetically engineered food it is not surprising that people need to care more for their bodies. At the same time, it has become more common for these people to understand the many components that create a strong body, and the factors that lead to health and wellness. There has been much research that indicated the several benefits obtained in people 's daily life, by incorporating the three factors that define health and wellness. These three factors include physical fitness, nutritional health, and mental health.
healthy is a major component in ones’ overall wellbeing, more so mentally, but being healthy
If one wants to live an enjoyable, fulfilling life they must know what it truly means to be well. Living a wellness lifestyle means incorporating all aspects of what it takes to flourish as a human being. It goes beyond the health of the physical body and incorporates the important social, emotional, and spiritual factors that play a part in every person’s life in one way or another. Knowing how to act correctly, control our feelings, channel our frustrations, and improve in each dimension of wellness will lead to a satisfactory life. Spiritual, physical, emotional, nutritional, and social wellness define the biggest components of life and thriving in them is vital.
Western culture stresses ultimate dedication in the workplace, often at the expense of an employee’s mental well-being. Individuals will work holidays, arrive early and leave late, and attend all outside work functions in hopes of finding themselves in opportunities for advancement more often than others. After centuries of being slaves to the desks and nine-to-five workday, the new millennial culture has begun to reconsider the life sentence of work before personal lives. In this paper, I investigate what exactly has led to holistic health, alternative medicines, and preventative care take a place in society as a profitable part of our culture in the following: by detailing the increase of healthcare costs; the impact of the recent definition
Aistear was introduced as the curriculum framework which when practiced alongside Síolta, the quality guidelines for the early years settings environments (introduced by the NCCA in 2006), creates a nurturing and safe environment which caters to the individual developmental needs of each child within the setting. Aistear means journey as Gaeilge and symbolizes the learning process and search of knowledge as a journey. Aistear’s framework is based on four themes - Well Being, Identity & Belonging, Communication and Exploring & Thinking - as a means to develop the child in a holistic way. (Aistear principle and themes: introduction).
Mirowsky and Ross explain how health “increases effective agency” and also helps build “habits, skills, resources, and abilities” that helps a person improve their lives (Mirowksy and Ross, 2010: pg. 33).
The purpose of early childhood education is to firstly learn about one’s self and agency, how one’s actions can affect and impact others; to develop a sense of identity; who you are and how you fit into this world. Experience a sense of belonging through interactions with peers and teachers whilst celebrating and sharing diverse cultures whilst embracing others. Children need to have opportunities to explore, experiment, to gain insight and knowledge in numeracy, literacy, science and social structure through innovative and richly supported curriculums (DEEWR, 2009). I have very high expectations of all children as I believe that this assists in building self-confidence and
What is wellness and why is it important in my life? Wellness can be broadly described as the culmination of actively making multiple choices that will lead oneself to a happier and healthier life. Wellness is not merely being in shape or having an IQ of 130. Rather, wellness is an active process through which we can better many aspects of ourselves. In general, most people wish to be the best version of themselves that they can be, leading to the crucial knowledge that wellness is an important topic for everyone.