You will demonstrate your ability to build positive and responsive relationships with children and adults. You will use your observation skills to plan and prepare a culturally relevant emergent curriculum based on children’s interests and family engagement.
You will use knowledge and skills developed in prerequisite courses to observe and record the behaviour of children, to interact with children and adults in a supportive and positive manner, and to guide children’s behaviour using positive guidance strategies.
You will examine the strategies of developmentally appropriate child guidance. You will learn about the importance of building relationships and establishing trust prior to guiding behaviour. You will practice techniques that support children while encouraging a co-operative attitude, a sense of autonomy and a positive self-image. Your studies will also explore Indigenous traditional practices of modelling and storytelling as a guidance technique.
You will examine the development and characteristics of school age children. This course focuses on the unique role of the educator, childcare issues distinctive to this age and the curriculum that can be designed to accommodate them.
You will acquire skills in observing and documenting children’s play and development as a foundation for responsive programming.
Your studies will focus on diverse cultural practices that promote the health, safety and nutritional needs of children and which support their holistic development.
Your studies will focus on the concepts and strategies of inclusion. You will discuss historical and current approaches, trends, and issues as they impact the practices of inclusion. You will examine practices related to identification and early intervention.
You will explore and build employability skills needed to become an effective early childhood educator. You will reflect on and practice supportive behaviours required when working in a diverse environment with colleagues, children and their families and outside professionals. You will learn about knowledge, skills and disposition of a well-qualified early childhood educator.
You will learn about the essential role play has in supporting the holistic development of children. The course focuses on the role of the early childhood educator in supporting children’s play, exploration and inquiry across all cultures and abilities.
You will plan a quality curriculum for children using a holistic approach while responding to their ideas and play. You will apply the main components of developing curriculum and practice preparing developmentally appropriate and open-ended experiences for children.