Every child has the right to quality early childhood education. When we value these rights, it compels us to provide learning in an environment based on high-quality pedagogy. Reflecting on our teaching strategies in early childhood is crucial to improving pedagogy.

Early childhood learning has historical roots that we can trace back to the time of Martin Luther in the 1500s. Since then, several teaching theorists have devised different approaches to early childhood teaching but all working towards the goal of successfully developing children.

Teaching strategies in early childhood supports three principles:

1. Presence of someone more knowledgeable than the learner
2. Social actions with an Educator with whom the learner can observe and practice their skills
3. Supportive activities led by the Educator (Scaffolding)

Early childhood teaching approaches:

The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) reflects several contemporary approaches that Petit ELJ supports through its philosophy and the practices it embraces. It also encourages Educators to draw upon a range of theories and methods to challenge traditional ways of seeing children.

A few of the early childhood teaching approaches that Educators practice and critically reflect on include:

The Reggio Emilia Approach: The Reggio Emilia approach believes children have many ways of communicating (100 languages) and classrooms that support this approach are known for their natural and found materials.

Jerome Bruner’s Theory of Learning: Bruner, influenced by the work of Vygotsky, also introduced the term scaffolding (often attributed to Vygotsky). Bruner’s concept of scaffolding believes children need help from Educators when they begin to learn a new concept but that this support can gradually fade as they acquire new skills and knowledge.

The Montessori approach: The Montessori approach is also associated with the term “Prepared Environment” which encourages child-centered learning in an environment where Educators prepare materials and activities based on a child’s interest and development.

The importance of using varied methods and strategies is to facilitate the learning of all students.