Planning in the Moment with Young Children: A Practical Guide for Early Years Practitioners and Parents

This book embraces the concept of planning in the moment and emphasizes the critical role of the adult in promoting child-led learning, giving early years practitioners the confidence and insight to work and plan in the moment, and enabling the children in their care to live, learn, play and develop in the here and now.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 170 pages
Publication date: 05 February 2018
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Young children live in the present moment, and if adults are to make a real difference in their learning, they need to seize the moments when children first show curiosity and support their next steps immediately. This book embraces the concept of planning in the moment and emphasizes the critical role of the adult in promoting child-led learning, giving early years practitioners the confidence and insight to work and plan in the moment, and enabling the children in their care to live, learn, play, and develop in the present.

Planning in the Moment with Young Children maintains a strong link to practice, providing numerous examples of how practitioners can integrate spontaneous planning and rich adult-child interactions into their everyday practice and early years curricula. From timetabling to setting clear rules, creating enabling environments, keeping records, and making use of a variety of materials, the book demonstrates the multitude of ways in which practitioners can encourage child autonomy and respond to the unique needs of each child. Examples from practice are rooted in theory, fully contextualized, and exemplified by original documentation sourced from the authors' own experiences and from a wide variety of settings.

Key features include:

Over 180 full-color photographs to illustrate practice;

Photocopiable pages including planning sheets, documentation, and activity sheets;

Advice on working with parents, individual children, and groups;

Tailored guidance on working with children at different stages of development from birth to age 6 years;

Relevance to a range of settings, including childminders, pre-schools, nurseries, and schools.

When children are allowed to select where, with what, and how to play, they are truly invested in their play and learning. They are more likely to retain information, develop problem-solving skills, and build self-esteem. Adult supervision and guidance can help foster this sense of autonomy and encourage children to explore and learn in their own way.

In conclusion, planning in the moment with young children is essential for promoting their learning and development. By embracing the concept of child-led learning and providing practitioners with the confidence and insight to work and plan in the moment, we can help children live, learn, play, and develop in the present. By incorporating spontaneous planning and rich adult-child interactions into practice, we can create enabling environments that support children's autonomy and encourage their natural curiosity and creativity.

Weight: 560g
Dimension: 297 x 212 x 9 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781138080393