I know from my years of experience in early childhood settings, that the challenge with the child directed curriculum is ensuring that every child`s voice is heard. This is a challenge, but there are strategies that can help. The child directed curriculum is a joy for every child and it can be equally pleasant for the early years educator. In this webinar, we will look at practical things that can help. Child guided does not mean chaos, it means that the child leads and the adult guides, where appropriate. I will also share many examples of shared play and learning opportunities across the four themes of Aistear. 

Parents are a huge asset in child directed learning and, in this webinar, we will look at easy and imaginative ways to involve parents in a child directed curriculum. One of the richest curriculum ideas in my setting was to involve parents in a junk art project.  I will share the results with you. 

Exploring and thinking is a wide canvas for a child, and once we engage with that concept, the sky is the limit. I will share some exploring and thinking ideas that work, which are cheap and sustainable for the early years educator. 

Communication is important for everyone, but for a child it is a vital aspect of a happy childhood. It all starts with language and storytelling. This webinar will share communication ideas that children love. These ideas can support children to develop language skills in an inclusive way. 

A sense of Identity and Belonging is the foundation stone of a happy early years setting. The ideas shared in this webinar will promote a strong sense of self-identity and encourage a sense of belonging. 

At the heart of all of our work in early years is the well-being of the child. However, a happy early years educator is a happy child, so along with looking at ideas that support the health and well-being of the child, we also consider ways you can support your own well-being. 

If you have questions about how to engage children and how to develop curriculums that support the holistic development of children, this webinar is for you. Come along and see how we use resources such as Tuff Trays both indoors and outside to support child directed play. 

Aistear is a journey. For me it was a journey of discovery, the discovery that if we listen to children, their journey of discovery is a rich learning experience, of which the sky is the limit.