Page 8 - LESSION 10.pmd

Care of Children in Early Years

• Good health, hygiene and safety practices

• Trained staff with regular professional development opportunities
Notes
The significance of care for young children is spelt out in the section below.

10.4.1 Interest, Curiosity and Motivation
The early years are a time when what you do can be seen in the children you
raise. Often, we do not pay attention to interest among children. Interest is a
form of energy that leads to curiosity as well as motivates and guides children’s
engagement in the world. Infants have an enthusiastic awe and wonder as
everything is new and the novelty makes them explore. It is this energy that
inculcates interest and curiosity. Interest, if sustained, is vital to emotional health
in childhood and it remains vital throughout life. Without interest, there is no
curiosity, no exploration and no real learning.

Infants show intense interest in their mother’s face or caregiver's face, especially
the eyes. Soon, they become interested in objects that are colourful, moving,
rhythmic, or harmonious (or, more generally, beautiful). Young children are also
wide-eyed in their curiosity and interest which is encouraged with activity and
interaction. If caregivers display curiosity for objects, phenomena and provide
explanations, children will be curious and motivated. Energy and desire to do,
watch and explore will go a long way in sustaining children’s lifelong interests.
Enthusiastic adult responsiveness to children’s interests is the surest way to engage,
sustain curiosity and motivation.

10.4.2 Forming Relationships

It is important for babies and young children to have rich and
supportive relationships with parents and family members in their early years for
them to be alert and active. Positive relationships are important because they help
children develop independence, self-esteem and wellbeing. Children will feel
confident, secure and be able to trust their relationship with adults in turn learning
to trust their own decisions. When interacting with caregiver, children learn social
skills, such as sharing, cooperating, and respecting other’s ownership. They also
learn to communicate and develop motor skills. Cognitive stimulation influencing
early brain development is strongly dependent on early attachment and positive
relationships. These relationships built in the early years go a long way in
maintaining interest, curiosity and motivation throughout life. In later years,
children’s social skills, emotional state, and sense of value affect their academic
learning.

10.4.3 Play and Playful Interactions

From birth, children explore their senses and process new information in a manner

8 EARLY CHILDHOOD CARE AND EDUCATION