Learning and Teaching in Early Education: The Potentiality of the Educational Context

How Children Learn In Preschool Years

Learning can be carried out in many different ways. We sometimes learn with little conscious control, without having to plan, like when we decide to take an umbrella because we see clouds in the sky and we have learnt that this may indicate rain. However, in other occasions, a high level of organization and structure in the learning process is required, like when we start using letters to end up writing our name and creating new words. Moylett (2013) identifies three main actions involved in preschool learning: a) to explore, which includes the direct immersion in the experience and which entails the implementation of the abilities to investigate, experience, imitate and interact with things and people; b) to imagine, think and create, which include all the mental abilities which imply creating and exploring hypothetical worlds, analysing and communicating experience, as well as developing new ideas and plans in order to face a certain situation; and c) to entertain while learning, which entails the ability of being involved and concentrated on what someone is doing, paying attention, keeping a continuous effort and enjoying the achievement of objectives.