1. Philosophy
I believe that each child is an integral part of society from the moment they are born.
No two children are alike. Each has their own unique personality, their own learning style, their
own gifts, and their own experiences. Having differences allows the entire community to
experience a balance that brings about a beautiful symphony of people. When working with
young children, understanding each child is important. Every aspect of the child needs to be
considered when implementing lessons or dealing with an issue. The whole child matters
which means their body, spirit, mind, and experience must be considered. When children feel
safe, loved, and supported, they can do amazing things. We are helping them at a foundational
level, which is a huge responsibility that needs to be taken seriously.
When thinking about what is best for children in our care, their families are one of the
most important factors. Developing strong relationships with children and their families is one
of my greatest strengths as a teacher, because it is such a priority for me. It is absolutely
necessary to develop a relationship with the child and their family as a first priority. The
families are putting their trust in you to care for the love of their life, often for a large portion of
the day. In order for a child to feel safe and comfortable in your care, they need to see that
their family trusts you. Developing a relationship with the family and the child will allow
everyone involved to feel more comfortable. It is also important to have a relationship with
families to understand their family culture and what their goals for their child are. Every family
does things differently, and the family is likely to be the most important aspect of the child
when trying to understand them. Balancing our goals for children with the goals their family

2. has for them is one of the most challenging and one of the most important pieces of Early
Childhood Education and Development. We must respect the family’s desires for their child,
while also helping them understand things from an educator’s perspective. Consistency is
important for children. If a relationship with the child’s family is strong, then climate, discipline,
and schedules can be mirrored at home and at school as much as possible. Lastly, bringing in a
home to school connection for the children can make them feel more comfortable, valued, and
appreciated.
Children learn, grow and develop best when they are in a supportive, nurturing and
engaging environment. They must feel loved, safe and supported at school. They have to feel
comfortable enough to take risks and empowered enough to learn how to solve problems on
their own. The role of teachers in children’s learning is to create this type of environment to
encourage and scaffold children in their explorations and social endeavors. Materials for
children should be open ended, engaging, emergent and presented with great intent. This is
another reason that relationships are so important in the classroom. We as educators must
truly know the children in our care to know what they are interested in and what level they are
at developmentally so we can present materials and ideas that they will engage them and will
challenge them without creating frustration. We are helping shape who these children will be
when they are adults and fostering the most important skills they will ever learn after all!