3 minute read
Adventures in Learning: Embracing Curiosity with Young Minds (The Glen, Fall 2024)
from The Glen, Fall 2024
by Bayview Glen
Imagine stepping into the world of a preschooler, where every moment is a brand-new adventure They don’t just see the world; they dive into it with all their senses It’s through this pure and unfiltered perspective that some of the most powerful and lasting learning takes shape.
When was the last time you lay on the ground just to look at the underside of a tree? Unless of course you are an arborist, this may not be something that crosses your mind You might be wondering where such curiosity leads, but perhaps the better question is: where can’t it lead? Recently, a child invited me to lie on the ground and look up at a tree As we lay there, I realized that their perspective made perfect sense — it’s easier to gaze upward for a long time when lying down Through listening and engaging in conversation, it was clear just what I was meant to discover; branches that resembled roadways, creating a system to get from point A to point B For the car-enthusiast 3-year-old who encouraged me to take a look from a different direction, it was clear to see . From there, the morning transformed into an adventure, imagining where these “branch pathways” could lead, and even making quick connections to the veins in the human body The possibilities felt endless, mirroring the learning potential within each child.
What makes the connections in the early years so powerful is that preschoolers are inherently bold in their learning They aren’t afraid to ask questions, to try, fail, and try again They embrace challenges, and in doing so, they build resilience These moments — whether solving a problem or bouncing back from setbacks — become the foundation for skills that will serve them well beyond their preschool years.
Looking up toward the branch pathways in the sky was an experience that reminded me of the immense capacity children have for knowledge, often sparked by their natural interests As educators, our role is not to direct or confine this learning, but to support it — to learn alongside them, share our insights, and gently guide their discoveries forward with engaging programming and resources.
So, the next time a child invites you to change your perspective and look at the world through their eyes, seize that opportunity Embrace their curiosity and encourage them to engage deeply with the world around them Remember, these early experiences create the foundation for a future where today’s young learners will not just adapt to the world — they’ll shape it Our brilliantly bold and brave Bayview Glen students will be the ones to help heal it, creating a more compassionate, thoughtful, and purposeful world I, for one, am grateful to share these moments with tomorrow’s change-makers.
