I believe that every child is a unique individual with his/her own opinions and imagination and we should create a caring and safe learning environment for them. We should create a caring and safe learning environment for them so that children can feel secure in their environment allowing them to express themselves. As an educator, I want to provide a safe and comfortable environment for children to discover what they are good at or not good at. During this time, I believe it is most important for children to develop in all areas while fostering their curiosity and ability to explore. It is also important to have patience with the children during the internship as some of them are not native English speakers and need to be explained to by the educator.
I believe that childhood is a very important stage in everyone's life stage and when I plan learning programs for children, I believe that children learn through hands-on play and exploration. During my internship, I realized that working with children's families (i.e. their parents) and communicating with them in a timely manner is a very important step. During my internship at EarlyON I gained a deep appreciation for the importance of the parent or caregiver's help in a child's development. Learning about a child's daily life from an educator is a great opportunity to learn about a child's personality, which in turn helps the educator to be able to design a better learning program. When planning these activities, I emphasize open-ended environments and inclusive materials to meet the needs of each child so that each child can feel included. I believe that open-ended and inclusive activities allow children to learn through hands-on learning and play.
I believe that every child's upbringing and environment is different, but regardless of background, every child deserves quality education and care. As educators, we should help children be brave enough to recognize their different experiences. In my new practicum site, I have learned that most children's first language is not English and some children will have different backgrounds and cultures. Learning a new language and culture and integrating is a difficult process for these children. Therefore, it is important that we commit to treating each child with tolerance and fairness, emphasizing their cultural background.