For the English version, click here.

Children have a natural need to discover the world around them. They do this through all their senses and movements, which is why they need to take part in activities to learn. This is "active learning". How can we support this curiosity and need to move at home?

Let them explore the world and accompany this discovery with words. 

At any age, but especially when we are young, we learn best when we are involved in meaningful experiences, involving many senses and our emotions. It is through language, through speech, that the adult will help the child to gather information from all the senses and make a link with past learning.

A child is always experimenting. You've seen them open a game and throw all the pieces on the floor to figure out what's inside the box, look, touch, hear the sounds. As adults, we tend to forget this. Freedom of exploration and movement is essential: "Children learn by experiencing their world using all their senses. Restricting movement, especially at a young age, hinders the process of experiential learning.

Support and encourage their curiosity

1. Give importance to your child's interests. 

Encourage their natural interests. If he likes music, listen to it often, play instruments together, dance together. If he likes insects, give him a bucket and a net and go looking for them in a park. Find books about insects and read them to him.

2. Show your interest in the world around us.

Walk outside and ask aloud about the trees, the sky, the stars. Also let your child see you pursuing your own interests.

3. Answer their questions simply and clearly and according to their development.

The question "Where do babies come from?" will have a different answer if your child is three or thirteen years old. At any age, ask them what they think before you answer. And if you don't know the answer, say so. What a great opportunity to show your child that learning is still possible, and take the opportunity to show them how, for example by looking for a book in the library.

4. Make the library a regular outlet.

Books are windows to all kinds of worlds to delight the curious mind. Young children exposed to books become better readers. Let your child choose his or her own books, the important thing is that he or she is captivated so that reading becomes a habit and a pleasure. Paris is full of other outings to delight your child: toy libraries, the Cité des enfants at La Villette, theatres. The magazine Paris Môme4 lists the city's outings for children every month.

5. Redirect explorations as needed, without discouraging the child. 

If your toddler is exploring houseplants, put them out of reach, but offer a nearby alternative (a trip to the park where we go to look at dirt and plants, or a small bowl with dirt that they can touch, smell, play with, inspect). Explain what you are doing and why, and this will teach them important problem-solving skills, as well as creative and acceptable ways of exploring the world.

6. Make time for open activities.

Unlike some toys that are designed to be used in a certain way, materials such as boxes, blocks, water, sand, pans can be used imaginatively. Do not tell your child what to do with the material, how to do it or what it should look like in the end. Let your child's curiosity be their guide.

7. Get out, get moving! 

Go out with your child as often as possible. They need to exercise and explore the world with their whole body. Take advantage of parks, as contact with nature is also very beneficial for their development.

How do these principles translate into the school?

In our classrooms, children are very often on the move. This may give an impression of "lack of structure", but it is a deliberate and thoughtful organisation.

Children move to get materials for an activity, to get into a comfortable position for themselves, to wash a paintbrush or to ask a question. Their games and activities involve movement, and their body is as important a learning tool as their brain!

Scientific research has repeatedly shown that children need opportunities to move around in class, so we have organised our classes and plan our days accordingly.

Jessica Escobar