Approaches to learning

Infants and Toddlers (0-36 months)

Infants and toddlers explore their immediate environment and show interest in solving challenges and learning about the world at large. Regardless of what they’re learning, they must use their “approaches to learning” skills as positive strategies for directing this learning.

In the first three years, these skills highly depend on the quality and quantity of interactions with adults and peers. Right after birth, young infants show eagerness and curiosity when listening to familiar voices. They take turns making sounds as supportive adults repeat and reinforce their spontaneous, simple sounds. That leads to them seeking out these experience so they can practice, produce and expand their utterances. Older infants, young and older toddlers all build upon expressive language acquired at early stages; therefore, it’s important the adults around them support their continued curiosity, persistence and problem-solving.
There are three components of approaches to learning in infants and toddlers:

Bottom line: Parents, caregivers and teachers must encourage and support, in all stages of early development, infants’ and toddlers’ eagerness, curiosity, attention, persistence, creativity and problem solving so they may learn in the best way possible.

Preschoolers (3-5 years old)

Preschoolers have a desire to explore and accept new challenges. Some of them, however, need structure and encouragement when trying new things before they show interest. Regardless of what they’re learning, they must use their “approaches to learning” skills as positive strategies for directing this learning.

There are four components of approaches to learning in preschoolers:

Bottom line: Teachers must provide opportunities for success for all styles of learning so that all children, despite