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Early Childhood: Cognitive Development

EC children are naturally curious about their world. Children have both planned and spontaneous opportunities to explore, engage, think, investigate and imagine about the natural and physical world. Children’s curiosity leads to developing understanding by watching, listening and reflecting on their own ideas and experiences and making links to new experiences. Cognitive development is fostered by experimenting with materials in a creative and diverse way and extended through effective adult interactions and questioning techniques.  Cognitive processes include mathematical and scientific development.

Mathematical development in the early years focuses on the use of hands-on materials.  Allowing children to investigate and communicate mathematical ideas using a variety of materials builds a better understanding of mathematical concepts. Children use their curiosity and desire to explore the mathematical concepts of patterns, shapes, numbers, measurement, sorting, classifying and space with increasing sophistication.  It is through these experiences that a foundation is laid for the more abstract mathematical thinking that occurs in later years.

Scientific development in the early years focuses on the children’s interaction with the world around them. They observe, consider and discuss what they see, hear, smell, taste and touch. In their explorations they show interest in the natural and built environments and seek to make sense of what is around them. They are enthusiastic users of tools, materials and resources in the school and the wider world. Children investigate and begin to develop an understanding of natural and built environment as they explore similarities, differences, patterns and changes of living and non living objects.