The Victorian Early Years Learning and Development Framework (VEYLDF) guides early childhood professionals to work in partnership with families and care providers to support children to become confident and engaging individuals throughout their life. The VEYLDF identifies five learning and developmental outcomes for all children from birth to eight years. The five outcomes promote an environment of play based learning for children to develop a range of skills and knowledge while recognising children learn in their own way and at different rates.

Children have a strong sense of identity

Each child is unique and come from different family life and experiences that define them as individuals. From birth children are discovering who they are and how they fit into their world.

·       Children develop secure attachments, positive relationships in their lives and
develop a sense that they belong

·       Engage with others and communicate theirs needs

·       Learn to interact cooperatively with others

·       Value the contribution that others have in their world

·       Have a strong sense of their selves and their own accomplishments.

Recently in our toddler room we have shared the following play experiences to promote the children's developing Identities

·       The children have enjoyed role playing in the home corner and taking on different roles of being Mum, Dad, the baby, Grandma or a visitor

.      We have read books about different places to live in the world and how everyone is special and unique; 'Whoever You Are' by Mem Fox, 'No Difference Between Us' by Jayneen Sanders and 'If You Were Me and Lived in France' by Carole P Roman.

Children are connected with and contribute to their world

Children become aware of the connection that they have with other people and can make new friends.  They recognise their differences and what also brings them together such as daily routines and shared experiences.  Open communication with families and teachers is critical to have a shared understanding of the child's culture and traditions.  This provides the child with an environment that they have a sense of belonging to and are able to contribute.

Children are developing skills

·       To resolve conflicts

.      Building friendships

        .      Show empathy and concerns for others when they are upset or hurt

        .      Awareness of what is unfair and gaining the ability to act with compassion

       .      Aware of their environments and know how to care for it

Recently in our toddler room we have been exploring the following play experiences to promote the children's connection with family and their environment.

             .      The children recently wanted to plant a garden with some vegetables as an extension to our recent conversation about
               where our food comes from

         .   At the play dough table, the children started a discussion about the different food they were making based on what they
             have for dinner at home.  We had some lovely contributions of vegetables, pizza, pasta and fish.

     

Picture 3

Children have a strong sense of well-being

Children develop the ability to express their emotions from birth as they interact with family and primary caregivers. Children learn to express and mange feelings including disappointment, anger and frustrations, impulses as well as joy, happiness and excitement. Children are guided to become self-aware and regulate their own feelings.

Children demonstrate a strong sense of well-being when:

·       Able to adapt to different social settings and new environments

·       Play with others as well as time on their own

·       Seek assistance when they need support

·       Developing confidence and resilience

      ·       Awareness of and practice hygiene routines

·       When faced with new experiences they try their best and know failure is apart of learning

       ·       Maintain healthy bodies by being physically active and understanding healthy and unhealthy food options

To assist the toddler children with developing understanding of routines and well-being we have participated in the following activities;

·       Washing and caring for dolls

·       Giving names to feelings to help identify them through stories, incidental social interactions and conversation. The children have been exploring different facial expressions in the mirror.

 

Children are confident and involved learners

Children enjoy actively learning about their world through involvement, experimenting, using their senses, asking question and trying new things. As children become confident learners in a supportive environment they become more resilient and learn that making mistakes is a part of leaning. With encouragement children will be able to take risks and ask for assistance when needed.

Children are confident learners when they:

·       Are able to persevere through difficult challenges and try new things

·       Use past experiences or gain new ones and to keep trying

·        Become aware that their learning has purpose

·       Their learning is contributed to by others input and shaping of ideas and questions

Children are curious and are encouraged to explore their worlds deeper and follow their curiosity leading them to exciting finds as well as using their imaginations and developing problem solving skills. Children are provided with an environment that has open ended opportunities for children to be creative and deepen their thinking processes.

The children in the toddler room have been very curious and strong learners through open ended play experiences using;

·       Painting mediums

·       Different construction materials – Blocks, cardboard boxes

 

Children are effective communicators

Children are effective communicators and develop their communication skills from birth using non-verbal ques to strengthen relationships and communicate needs. Children build on this to be able to communicate verbally through play experiences such as reading books, being read to, singing, talking with others in conversation and play.

As children learn to communicate they will be able to:

·       Communicate through drawings and pictures

·       Children will learn to communicate orally and in written form

·       Able to apply meaning to text, sounds to letters

·       Often Speak more than one language

       ·       Engage in back and forth exchanges, learning the ability to take turns and listen

·       Extend play with language of intent such as in dramatic play

We love to communicate in the toddler room and build positive relationships with each other by:

·       Engaging in one on one conversations and group conversations

·       Teaching the children to take turns and listen to each other

·       Sharing stories and books together

·       In our imaginative and dramatic play

·       Incorporate words from home if spoken in another language

 

Let's Learn!