Learning Environments and Curriculum:

Seek Multiple Perspectives

Breadcrumb trail:

Uncover and experience the perspectives of children, families, and colleagues.

When your work is informed by multiple perspectives, you have richer experiences, build stronger relationships, and deepen mutual understandings. Listening to others who have different perspectives can nudge you to reconsider your daily practice and worldview, and recognize and challenge your biases. They can also lead to shared inquiry. Finding areas in which you can collaborate with others is a great way to uncover and experience different perspectives. With CompSAT by your side, you may be inspired to seek the perspectives of the children, families, and colleagues in your program and beyond.

Two teachers discussing issues outside.

Research suggests that for children to learn to self-regulate and keep themselves safe, they need experiences with risk-taking. But every adult has a different idea of what kind of risk is acceptable. Rather than make rules, taking time to explore different perspectives will help you discover how to negotiate a safe environment that includes risk-taking.

Try This!

Each of the following images reflects an adult's thinking about environments that are not only safe, but are places where children can flourish. As you study them, consider these questions:

  • What might be the benefit for the children?
  • How could you help the children learn to negotiate issues of safety?
  • How could you negotiate with co-workers and families who have a risk tolerance different than yours?
A child's pair of red shoes.
A child's pair of red shoes.
Children playing in the sand.
Children playing in the sand.
Children petting a chicken.
Children petting a chicken.
A young girl learns how to make cupcakes.
A boy jumping off a climbing structure.

 

Use this template to record your observations, thoughts, and feelings.  Download the Template

Deepen Your Understanding

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies

Deepen your understanding of the Topic: Principles of curriculum in Performance Area 1 of the CA ECE Competencies. Scroll to page 68.

Can you find other places in this competency area that address your interests and needs?

Download the California ECE Competencies

California Early Childhood Educator Competencies