As an early childhood teacher I view infants and toddlers as competent, capable and active learners who are unique individuals who need a safe, caring, and encouraging atmosphere to grow and develop. The early years of a child’s life are busy. I believe learning is happening all the time and is interwoven through the five developmental domains, which include: physical, social, emotional, cognitive and language. I also believe that infants and toddlers learn through all their senses by touching, smelling, hearing, seeing and tasting. I believe that play is essential in the lives of young children. I believe that children learn through play. The EYLF states play-based learning is “a context for learning through which children organise and make sense of their social worlds, as they engage actively with people, objects and representations” (DEEWR, 2009, p. 6)”. I believe play values the idea of allowing children to “just be”. As it states in the EYLF, “being is a time to be, to seek and make meaning of the world” (DEEWR, 2009, p. 7). I believe the environment plays a major role in the learning of infants and toddlers. I believe environments should be relaxed, safe and comfortable for children to explore and learn. The environment should enhance the children’s interests in all developmental domains. The environment should also take into consideration social skills, communication skills, physical abilities or challenges, and learning styles of the children. The environment should provide age-appropriate materials and activities for exploration and stimulation that corresponds to each child’s development. As well as familiar and predictable materials and activities for comfort and security. Theorists Montessori, Piaget and Dewey embody my beliefs about how children learn. I believe children learn through their environment and through their senses. Montessori supports this as she believed that the environment and sensory experiences were vital to a child’s development, she also believed children learn best through sensory experiences. I believe that children learn through play. Piaget supports this as he believed play is an avenue for learning. I believe that children’s interests form the basis for curriculum planning. Dewey supports this as he believed the child’s own interests and powers furnish the material and give the starting point for all educators.

I believe that families are the most important thing in a child’s life. I believe in supporting and developing a partnership with families to share the nurturing and education of their children. For me, teaching provides an opportunity for continual learning and growth. One of my hopes as a teacher is to instil a love of learning in my children, as I share my own passion for learning with them.

Brooke. Early Childhood Teacher