Have You Ever Wondered?

At Little Steps we believe every child is full of intelligence, curiosity, and wonder. I Wonder is our in-house curriculum framework that is built on our foundation of developmentally appropriate practice, play, and relationships.

Research shows children learn best not necessarily by what they are taught but as a result of their own doing. Through I Wonder we strive to create a quality learning environment for all children where they are encouraged to explore, question, and interpret the world around them in their own way, at their own pace.

What Is it?

In its most basic form, I Wonder is a curriculum framework designed to help our educators provoke exploration, discovery, and wonder using developmentally appropriate play experiences that are responsive to their student’s needs, interests, and abilities. It is similar to the Reggio Emilia approach to childhood education and is used as a guide to help facilitate learning, provoke exploration, and inspire curiosity.

We make time every day to create, move, sing, discuss, observe, read, and play as these are all seen as “languages” children use to express themselves and explore their environment. At Little Steps, children are taught how to think, not what to think, and are encouraged to move freely around their classroom to choose from an array of activities and experiences that support their interests and development. Through open-ended exploration and discovery, learning is seen not as a linear process but, instead, as a spiraling progression full of wonder.

Mirrors & Windows

At Little Steps, we’re passionate about creating places of belonging and celebrating all cultures, traditions, and beliefs. Layered with inclusion and diversity, our curriculum provides mirrors and windows for our students to see themselves and the world reflected in their environments.  

“Mirrors” create opportunities for our students to see themselves, their families, and their communities reflected in their classroom, materials, and activities. “Windows” provide opportunities to see the world and learn about peoples, places, cultures, and arts they may otherwise not encounter. In diverse and inclusive learning communities, one child’s mirrors are another child’s windows, making for wonderful opportunities of collaborative learning, inclusion, and cultural celebrations.

The Role of Our Educators

As Early Childhood Educators our job is to create a foundation and a passion for learning. We are trained to meet our students where they are at today and move them forward at their own pace. We are co-learners, facilitators, and motivators as we lend our expertise to our students to encourage exploration, discovery, and wonder.

Being a facilitator means we set the stage and provide opportunities for our students to deeply explore and engage with the materials, environment, and people around them. Then we step back and observe, listen, and document their interests, growth, and development. We mentor, guide, and support our students through their own learning journey, not teaching from above. We provoke new interests through meaningful, open-ended experiences and assume the role of co-researcher, intentionally engaging in meaningful work and conversation.

Our ECEs play a key role in helping set the foundation for our student’s development and learning. They do this by involving the child wholeheartedly, allowing them to be their true self and take charge of their own learning.

The Role of Our Environments

Our learning environments play a key role in our approach. We know children thrive in environments that are tailored to their needs, interests, and abilities, and that are warm, welcoming, aesthetically pleasing, and culturally representative of community. Children are more likely to feel they can be themselves and feel a sense of belonging when their environment feels like home.

All Little Steps classrooms are child centred and reflective of the children who learn with us. Upon visiting one of our programs, you will see space for large and small group activities, quiet areas for self-regulation, soft furniture, plants, soft lighting, cozy cushions, blankets, family photos of our children and staff, small decorative touches such as rugs and lamps, and neutral, organic paint colors. We want our students to feel comfortable and safe, and have the independence to explore their interests freely. Our goal is to create a relaxing, homelike environment for the children who spend several hours a day with us, so we can be their home away from home!

“There is joy and wonder everywhere when you see the world through the eyes of a child.”