The Child in Community – Understanding Emergent Curriculum

Childhood 101 | The Child in Community

Images from a visit to our local Farmers Market…

Is this parsnip? Daddy loves parsnip.
(photo taken seconds before Immy takes a big bite off the end of one raw parsnip!)

Enjoying an orange slice which she coerced a friendly stallholder into giving her.

Mmmm.. yummy organic bacon fresh from the BBQ.

Listening to some live music.

Finding fruit pictures on the sign at the fruit juice vendor
I was fortunate to attend the ‘Landscapes of Possibility’ Conference hosted by Reggio Emilia Australia Information Exchange in 2007. A number of speakers from Reggio Emilia (a city in Italy) shared their stories about the incredible Emergent Curriculum approach to preschool education their city has adopted.
One of the key messages emphasised was the importance of the child within their community. Specifically;
  • Our identity is also formed by our relationship with the place we inhabit, our community.
  • The child is a citizen of the city.
  • The (preschool) children go out into their local community every week. They live the city as an educational experience, it is a constant source of learning projects – the crowds, the architecture, public sculpture, the rain.
  • Every opportunity for the children to be involved in community activities is taken.
  • There is an emphasis on collaboration between the child – family – community to support the learning of the child.
  • This prescence of children within the community provides greater visibility to childhood, to the importance of early education.
  • The community shares responsibility for the welfare and the education of the child.
When I read stories such as my friend Amanda’s struggles with her young children -on a local bus, -at Fremantle Markets, and -when pramming, I wonder if our local community values childhood at all. Instead of seeing children as a nuisance can we not instead celebrate the wonderful contribution they make to our lives and share responsibility for growing well-adjusted future citizens of our city?
It’s just a thought.

Read more of the Understanding Emergent Curriculum series;

PerspectivesUnderstanding Emergent Curriculum - Perspectives An Image of the ChildUnderstanding Emergent Curriculum - An Image of the Child
Are 3 Year Olds Too Young to Vote?Understanding Emergent Curriculum Is Your Teacher a Pirate?Understanding Emergent Curriculum
The Child in the CommunityUnderstanding Emergent Curriculum Creating Learning CommunitiesUnderstanding Emergent Curriculum - Communities of learners
Parents ParticipatingUnderstanding Emergent Curriculum Following Children’s InterestsUnderstanding Emergent Curriculum
What Happens When You Follow a Child’s Interest?Understanding Emergent Curriculum How Does an Interest Differ from a Theme?Understanding Emergent Curriculum
Are We Supporting the Hundred Languages of Children?Understanding Emergent Curriculum Revisiting the Hundred Languages of ChildrenCurriculum