Young children's natural affinity and intrinsic need to play is a clever and sophisticated resource that is not capitalised upon enough by teachers. There is something wonderful about the way in which children are born to play; the eclectic mix of skills and innate motivation they demonstrate at a very early age, which enables them to discover new things efficiently and access what they want.
As a result, children are already competent and capable explorers, hypothesisers and seekers of learning and knowledge. What is needed is for teachers to tune into their existing world of play, hook into their ideas, thoughts and interests and then to use this to teach. In short, children are already on a path of learning, they are already learners. Teachers need to get on this path with them and head in the same direction.
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