View of the Child

 

The view of the child within this framework is that children deserve a  responsive, respectful, trusting connection with the adults who care for and educate them. Relationships are key to development and learning. Connection and relationships in which the educator/caregiver and the family supports and celebrates the child’s growth and development in unity gives the child a sense of belonging to their environment, identity, and their community. When children feel this sense of belonging it inspires trust, safety and love that gives them room to practice and explore play and opens them up to have autonomy in a supporting way.

 

Children are viewed as unique, capable, creative, imaginative, curious, adventurous beings. All children have individual needs and it is important to see them in a holistic view. Holistic view in this document is defined as focusing on all aspects of the child's growth (physical, psychological, emotional), identity, spirituality, community and social (relationships with adults and peers).

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The Rights of the Child    

 

The best interest of the child should come before any other aspect in early childhood programs and childcare. Best Interest of the child in this document is defined as protection of the child’s physical, psychological, and emotional safety and well-being. The child’s rights are considered and respected when making decisions. If it is deemed by the parent, caregiver or organization the best interest of the child is compromised and there is no agreement of a resolution it would be one's duty to ethically reach out to a third party in order to protect the child’s right to safe quality care. 

 

All children have the right to inclusiveness and equity. This means children are honored regardless of culture, ethnicity, language, spirituality, religion, gender, sexuality, socio economic status, family structure or abilities.  That all children have physical spaces that allow them to participate and have opportunities to engage in both outdoor and indoor programming.

 

All children have the right to be a part of play and learning to express their ideas, maintain autonomy, use materials and equipment, have opportunity to move their body, 

have space for quiet moments, and be creative. Children are seen as researchers, looking to find answers to their curiosities and wonders. The Importance of Play 

Children deserve to be listened to and to be heard when expressing themselves whether through words, gestures, in play, through actions or in emotion. Carlina Rinald describes listening as a sensitivity to everything that connects us to others.  What is really important is to offer our time, because we need time to truly listen, we need time to be listened to by others and we need time to listen to ourselves. To truly listen to children we need to be fully present, we need to be open and allow ourselves to be accepting of difficult, frustrating and challenging points of view. Listening requires us to welcome uncertainty, differences and delight. At any moment listening can require us to change gears and move from listening in crisis, to listening to communicate, to listening in empathy, to listening in connection to others. Listening is a skill to be practiced and reflected upon.