Children are CONSTANTLY learning.
Regardless of if your child is in formalised care, preschool or at home with Mum & Dad, children are always learning through their environment, by what is modelled to them and through their own experience.
So, if they are always learning, why is Early Childhood Education so important?
Well, providing a little bit of structure around what they are learning ensures that our children have the basic building blocks to continue to grow and expand their knowledge once it is school time.
How do I know this? Well, I have been in the Early Childhood Industry for 18 years!
I have had an incredibly wide and varied career over the last 18 years, and have explored many paths of learning and discovery. Throughout my time in the industry I have taught in the United Arab Emirates, studied Nature Play in the United Kingdom as well as Business Education at the Disney Institute in the United States!
11 years ago I established a Willow Tree Kindergarten, an Early Childhood Centre and Out of Hours Care Provider.
So, is formalised care the only option for my child?
No, I don’t believe so. I do believe in Early Childhood Educators and the incredible skills, patience, and passion they provide for children in care, day in and out. But I don’t believe this model is the ONLY model in which you can help teach your child and build enquiring minds.
Part of why I love having Below the Willow Tree is so I can help parents find great educational toys and resources for their children to help them learn through play, exploration, and experience.
That being said, I am so proud of my wonderful team of Educators and what we have achieved together. I love that we are forward thinking and always adapting our educational visions for the children and our own learning. A good Educator is always evolving, and it is very important to me that children understand the world and our community. I am a huge advocate of Outdoor Education and Nature Play in early education, and I am so grateful we have been able to be a part of innovative educational programs in our local community.
This month was Educator’s Day, and to be able to celebrate this incredible team of like-minded individuals was such a privilege.
Learning in the early years is a magical time, I just love observing children become pilots in their own play! Through exploration, experimentation, creativity and imagination they have the opportunity to develop in the most whimsical ways.
“The future belongs to the curious. The ones that are not afraid to try it, explore it, poke at it, question it and tun it inside out!” – Anonymous
To be a part of that process for our little ones is the absolute best! I am so proud to an Early Childhood Educator!
If you are looking for incredible resources to help your little one explore their world, click HERE to check our some of our awesome resources. And for my fellow Outdoor Education enthusiasts, check out Wild Things by Lonely Planet or Your Wild Child by Brooke Davis.
