Includes bibliographical references and index.

The key argument of this text is that how children learn is as important as what they learn. This book helps you understand how to support the learning and development of young children through promoting the characteristics of effective early learning: play and exploring, active learning, and creating and thinking critically. This book nvestigates how children engage in learning through playing and exploring, and are motivated through active learning ; Explores how children become creative and critical thinkers able to review their own learning and thinking, imaginatively solving problems and excited by their own ; Examines appropriate approaches to observation, assessment and planning ; Supports practitioners in reporting on how children demonstrate these characteristics for the revised EYFS profile. Rich in practical examples and case studies, this is an essential read for early years students and practitioners who want to find out more about how to promote the characteristics of effective early learning in their practice.