Because we know that learning is not simply a matter of pouring information into children's brains but rather an active and social process that builds on past experiences and understandings, children need lots of opportunities for active learning and social interactions and PLAY. Play for children is more than recreation; it is the way that young children learn.
Because we know that children learn best when they are engaged in interesting, meaningful, purposeful experiences, children need to be offered lots of opportunities to build on their interests, apply what they are learning to real-world problems, and make connections between ideas and academic content.
Because we know that learning is a continuum of development that each child moves through at a different rate with uneven development in different areas, parents and caregivers need to understand that each child will arrive at milestones such as crawling, walking, talking, and yes – even reading – at different points in their development and in different ways.
Because we know that children develop and learn best in the context of a caring and safe community, parents and caregivers need to provide children with trusting, safe, and caring spaces where children can take the risks necessary for learning.
