Children resource their own learning through connecting with people, places, technologies and natural and processed materials
The Early Years Learning Framework asks early childhood educators to use the incredible resources that are available to them: people, places and materials.
If you feel your service isn't well-resourced, realise that your staff members, children and location are actually resources. If you’re short on materials, look in the recycling bin or search for materials provided by nature.
Learning experiences about people
Support children to interact with a diverse range of people, including:
- other children
- adults
- elderly people
- family members
- community members
- people from different cultures
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
- and people with disabilities.
Learning experiences about places
- Introduce children to different places by holding excursions in your local community, reading books, or using technology (e.g. Google Earth or Google Maps).
- Expose children to different ways of living, including cities and rural areas.
- Teach children about places in nature, like beaches, rivers, forests, mountains and deserts.
Learning experiences about materials
- Provide children with a wide range of natural materials and processed materials to use in open-ended, child-led, experimental ways.
- Provide free access to loose parts within your learning environment.
Explore the EYLF
Explore other areas of Learning Outcome 4, Children are confident and involved learners.
Explore all the EYLF Learning Outcomes, with links to children's interest topics, on The Interest Forest.