02/13/2026
This is what play based emergent curriculum looks like. Child led and child centred. Thank you Denita for bringing this pedagogy to life everyday for the children you care for. .
EMPOWER children by honoring their ideas, understanding the value in their play and respecting how capable they are, if only we would step back and let them show us.
"Trees" by Collin
No, we are not studying trees. Collin became interested in trees, organically, last August. His play typically revolves around trees.
No, I did not direct him to make trees. On Tuesday, he arrived with a baggy of plastic lids. He proceeded to glue them down and dig around our maker space area for what he needed to make trees.
He then added the straws saying to no one, "...and another tree is growing here..."
Then, talking to the trees, he pointed to the plastic caps they were growing out of and said "...dont worry, this is the part that will protect you from rabbits."
After creating a lot of trees, he got the scissors out and, in the midst of his play, said "...and then the storm came BOOOOOOOOM and the wind blew down parts of the tree." as he cut chunks of the straws (trees). He then took those pieces and proceeded to pretend to be the wind blowing them all around the room.
That was just what happened on Tuesday. He worked on this for 3 days:
•Thinking Independently
•Assessing and managing risk (he used the hot glue gun all on his own)
•Creating
•Imagining
•Persevering
•Problem solving
________
PLEASE!!! I beg you!!!!
HONOR the ideas of children.
UNDERSTAND that the very last thing children need is adults filling their day with adult-driven ideas.
RESPECT how capable children are and how little of you and your ideas they actually need.
