Blooming Early Years

The seven areas of learning

what is Active learning?

Active learning is a form of learning in which teacher strives to involve students in the learning process more directly than in other methods. Bonwell and Eison state “that in active learning, students participate in the process and students participate when they are doing something besides passively listening.”

Educators Mary Hohmann and David Weikart also defined active learning as learning in which the child, by acting on objects and interacting with people, ideas and events, constructs new understanding. No one else can have experiences for the child; children must do this for themselves. As a childcare provider learning and developmental activities must involve all the seven significant and interconnected areas of learning according to the EYFS.

The following are the seven area of learning

• • communication and language
  • physical development
  • personal, social and emotional development
  • literacy
  • mathematics
  • understanding the world
  • expressive arts and design

Important and significant of the seven areas of learning

Communication and language development

communication is the basis for children’s development, it is the foundation for relationship and its also essential for learning as children need to be able to understand and be understood as well, when you communicate with babies they begin to form attachment thus its the key for building strong bonds hence children should be provided with an enabling environment where they can speak for themselves, listen to others  in a range of situations which allow them develop their language and communication skills

Physical development

 physical activities promotes healthy  development such as healthier body composition, stronger bones and muscles. Children who engages in high level of physical activities when they are young tends to be more active when they  mature which is great for better health and well being and extremely important for the learning process

another influencer of learning and development is  food, thus , children intake should be highly enriched in all nutrient in the right proportion, parent or careers should ensure children are offered healthy food choices as this is important in their physical development and learning process.

Personal, social, and emotional development

This area of learning helps to shape  children’s social skill as they  learn how to get on with others and make friends hence, building social bonds, helps develop respect for themselves as well as others, helps understand their own feeling as well as others  thus building their empathy, helps them learn what is RIGHT and WRONG, thereby, building their self esteem and ultimately independence

Literacy development

  This area of learning makes its easier for children to learn how to  read, its  essential for developing strong sense of well being, build strong reading skills and become lifelong learners thus creating healthier self image, reading aloud to children at an early stage is the most effective way of helping them develop their communication, build their vocabulary and help them recognize written words.

Reading out loud to children also stimulate their imagination of the things around them as well as help them  better understand the world. early introduction to literacy, reading, phonics will help them focus on literacy activities , they will be excited to listen when someone is reading thus seeing reading as a TREAT rather than a CHORE which is an essential skill for success in their lifelong learning process

Mathematics

  Mathematics is an important area of learning for children at an early stage as it provides the vital skills of life, its help children in their life long journey of problem solving and critical thinking, its create spatial awareness in them, teaches them how to use and understand shapes.

It  also bring to their awareness  measuring ,sorting, building, noticing patterns, making comparisons, counting as well as knowing the names of shapes, taking advantage of these mathematic moment helps develop mathematic learning  as each mathematic moment is like a charger that helps children develop more mathematic learning hence, Children need to be guided in developing their  skills with numbers and calculations, as well as being able to describe shapes, spaces, and measures.

A writer said ‘ A child  early mathematics skills predicts later academic achievement better than early literacy skill.  if you agree with this, comment down below let me know what you think. also WATCH OUT for my UPCOMING POST on ‘  important of early Mathematics skills and literacy skill to children development’ in this article i will tell you about my own view as regards the Writer. 

Understanding the world

this area of learning helps children understand the world around them, which helps them better make sense  of the things around them by observing and exploring everything from the places they spend  their time, to the technology and other things that they use.

This knowledge start to develop when children begin to  observe the  things around them such as their house, things in them, the trees in their natural environment, the traffic light when they go out, their curiosity grows as they see things and talk about it.

  This knowledge also enable them to communicate better, talk about what they see,  what they want to do, where they want to go, help them better make sense of their past, enable them to feel valued, be able to relate learning to themselves and the real world, help them develop interest in their own stories as well as tell it to others, help them better understand how others are different from them yet share some of the same characteristics and ideas.

Expressive arts and design

 This area of learning helps to develop children’s imagination and creativity , help expand their ability to interact with the world around them. art also, provides children with skill for self expression and communication .

Expressive art and design not only help develop the right side of the brain, it also help cultivate important skill for a child’s development., ability to use media, material, play instrument, use a paint brush or shape modelling clay or play dough also help to develop children fine motor skill and control and also give them the chance to express themselves and learn new things.