Active Learning

• Babies and young children learn by actively investigating the world around them and through social activity with people.
  
• Children's interactions enable them to construct ideas and create a framework for thinking and learning that helps them to develop as learners.
  
• When children are actively involved in learning they are developing the mental structures that help them to think and move on; these are sometimes referred to as schemas (Athey, 1990).
  
• Practitioners contribute to children's active learning by creating the climate and conditions to promote their involvement.
  
• Making decisions is important in children's learning, putting them in control and enabling them to match their play to what they want to achieve.
  
• Children develop autonomy as learners by making and following through their decisions about their learning.
  
• Engaging children in active learning depends on understanding and building on what each child is familiar with, knows and can do.
  
• The range of activities available should enable all children to find something that is relevant to engage and sustain their interest.
  
• Good working relationships with parents help practitioners to provide inviting contexts that children recognize and can learn from.