We meet Sophie playing in the outdoor area of her setting. In recent weeks she has gradually built up the sequence of movements required to achieve her goal. Her increasing confidence means that she can chat to friends while hanging upside down!
Is Sophie 'playing' or 'working'? Is she 'occupied' or 'learning'? However it is described, Sophie has clearly invested high levels of concentration, energy and commitment.
Far from regarding her activity as 'just playing', her key person observes and understands that there is a great deal more going on in terms of Sophie's well-being, learning and development. Sophie's inborn drive to explore, to investigate and to achieve can only be fully nurtured if the adults around her are tuned in to her interests and are seeking to provide appropriate support, challenge and opportunities. Practitioners are most effective if they perceive babies and children as 'eager explorers with an intense desire and will to make sense of their world.' (Kolbe).
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