The Curiosity Approach

Childhood deserves more than checklists.

More than rushed activities.

More than busy rooms.

More than adult-led outcomes.

More than simply getting through the day.

Childhood deserves time, connection, curiosity, wonder, play and adults who understand the importance of slowing down.

That is why The Curiosity Approach® exists.

Our Master Plan supports educators and settings to create meaningful childhoods through professional development, reflective practice, practical resources, community and a pathway towards accreditation when you are ready.

This is not a quick fix.

It is a journey.

And we walk it with you.

Places are now available for this term, but spaces are limited so we can give every setting the support they need.

If you believe childhood deserves more, come and join us. 💛

Comment 'Journey' to read more... ⏰⏰⏰

We all do things with the best intentions in mind! 🥰

To provide great activities, fun learning experiences, the need to show what children will be doing whilst in our care. A plan of outcomes linked to learning goals.
Something cute. Based around the upcoming topic, theme or festival?
An activity that we ‘think’ babies will enjoy?

Are you still doing stuff in early childhood education because “you’ve always done it that way?”

Maybe no one has ever explained an alternative

Isn’t it time as educators we ‘RETHINK’ and follow the natural unfolding developmental milestones of each individual child. ♥️

In my early career( Stephanie) I was constantly trying to think of weird and wonderful sensory play ideas for babies in my care. I’d spend ages cooking and colouring spaghetti, pasta and rice!

I’d whip up custard, open tins of beans and think that sensory play for babies meant playing with food. 😳

I so wish I knew and understood that sensory development has nothing to do with a tray of food and has everything to do with exploration, curiosity, playing and discovering the world around them.
It wasn’t about an external idea or planned activity that I produced.

It was internal development WITHIN the child!

Now I recognise that many reading this post may feel offended or triggered by my suggestion to make changes.

To feel the need to justify and defend actions. Please read this post in the tone it’s written. As a critical FRIEND. 🥰♥️
I get it ! I’ve done the ‘cooked spaghetti’ thing 🙌🏼

But let’s remember 🙏🏼
There is a different way
A way that is developmentally appropriate ♥️ Please I urge, encourage you to pause, reflect, consider and understand …….

Babies are born to receive and respond to sensory stimuli, from viewing the caregiver's face to listening to their voice, to exploring their environment as they grow and develop.

The 5 senses include sight, sound, touch, smell, and taste?

But let’s not forget that children have more than just 5 senses.

For example, they are developing their vestibular sense too, which involves movement and balance that provides information about the position of the head and body with the earth’s surface.

Proprioception helps children understand the placement of body parts and what they are doing, not forgetting about awareness of hunger, temperature changes, and more.

We are more than just 5 senses, and we need to reframe our thinking to see the humble Tuff tray filled with food is not the means of sensory development.

Seeing movement, play, exploration, and discovery as sensory development is important.

Experiences like rolling, crawling, and learning to stand and walk all contribute to sensory development.

Children don’t need us to 'TEACH' them to develop their senses.

Through freedom to move, a rich and powerful play space, connection to nature, a wealth of opportunities, playing, weaning, getting outdoors, and much more, children will have the opportunity to naturally develop their senses, all of them.🙌🏼

Another reason we don’t use food for sensory play is to consider food poverty and food insecurity as well.

Reflecting back now and considering about sitting babies in trays of cold spaghetti, jelly, or beans?

Would I have enjoyed the experience? Certainly not!
I wish I knew back then what I know now❤️

Instead, at The Curiosity Approach we allow children to explore this incredible world they find themselves in, in a way that’s respectfully relevant to them. Rich stimuli are everywhere. 😍🌍

Thank you for reading and for taking the time to reflecr

Want to learn more about CPD regarding babies? Join our presentation 19th June
Recording will be made available

Comment ‘ babies ‘ below 👇🏽

The Curiosity Approach® is not about creating perfect rooms.

It’s not about buying beautiful things.

It’s not about copying someone else’s environment.

It’s about understanding children more deeply.

It’s about child development, play, relationships, connection, reflection and intentional practice.

The environment matters, of course. But the real transformation begins in the thinking behind it.

That’s why our Master Plan supports the whole journey, not just what your setting looks like, but how your team thinks, talks, plans, reflects and grows together.

If you’ve ever looked around your setting and thought, “There must be another way,” you are exactly who this journey is for.

Places are now available for this term, with limited spaces so we can offer the best support to everyone who joins.

You don’t have to be ready.
We help you become ready. 💛

👇👇👇 Comment 'Journey' below for more info... 👇👇👇

What shifts when you and your whole team join at The Curiosity Approach community ?

▪️Light bulb moments happen
▪️ Courage to try something different
▪️ Putting the joy back into our roles
▪️Mindsets shift
▪️Routines become mindful
▪️ Environments become intentional
▪️Purposeful
▪️Energy changes
▪️ Focus shifts input v output
▪️Connection v correction
▪️Attunement v attainment
▪️Mindful v Mindless
▪️Everyday is unwritten
▪️Children have autonomy agency
▪️Raising up caregiving
▪️High expectations of the team
▪️There is a rhythm to the day
▪️ Time to pause, linger, reflect
▪️ Childhood is celebrated
▪️ It’s a journey not a race
▪️ Small changes create have an incredible impact ❤️

Comment ‘journey’ to find out more 👇🏽



Images from Steps Academy Cairns who are part of The Curiosity Approach

This 👇🏽❤️❤️❤️❤️

Accreditation is not where the journey begins.

It’s where the journey is celebrated. ✨

At The Curiosity Approach®, we believe transformation happens through learning, reflection, community, practice and time.

Some settings join because they already dream of becoming accredited.

Others join because they want inspiration, support, resources, leadership guidance or a fresh way of thinking.

Both are welcome.

The Master Plan gives you the pathway, tools and support to grow at your pace, in your setting, with your team.

And when you’re ready, accreditation is there waiting for you.

We are now welcoming new members for this term, with limited places available to protect the quality of support we offer.

Learn with us.
Grow with us.
Become accredited when you’re ready. 💛

Comment 'Journey' below to be sent the link to your inbox! 💌💫

YOU ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT RESOURCE

You can have the most beautiful aesthetically pleasing setting in the world! BUT if you focus only on the LOOK of the place - it’s all SMOKE and MIRRORs !

In Early childhood education Educators ARE the most important resource !

In this modern age of hurried rush childhoods, children need connection, relationships, they need someone who slows down and is WITH them.

An opportunity to be seen heard, understood and nurtured. ❤️

Yesterday I visited Small Steps Academy in Cairns Australia.

They are part of The Curiosity Approach community working towards becoming the first accredited centre in Cairns! 🙏🏼

They understand the philosophy of creating spaces and places where children can THRIVE, adopting a slow pedagogy.

Just look at their team gathering - where educators are VALUED ❤️

Joining The Curiosity Approach is NOT a curriculum, a check list or about making your environment look cute and pretty. It’s not about beige environments, hessian boards or looking like granny’s front room either 😂

It’s a community to connect, reflect, learn and grow.

Its understanding childhoods have changed and then as educators asking “what do children need”

How can WE show up for the child( ren)

Here at The Curiosity Approach we invite you and your entire team to come discover, grow with us, reflect with us and make small incremental changes based on YOUR setting and YOUR children.

No two settings are the same because no two children are the same 🥰❤️

Want to understand MORE?
You don’t need to be ‘ready, you just need to be willing to try’

Comment ‘journey’ below 👇🏽

So many educators tell us they’ve been watching The Curiosity Approach from the sidelines, waiting for the “right time.”

Waiting until the environment is better.
Waiting until the team is more settled.
Waiting until they feel more confident.
Waiting until they feel ready.

But here’s the truth…

The Curiosity Approach journey is what helps you become ready.

You don’t need the perfect environment or all the answers before you begin. You simply need a desire to create meaningful childhoods through play, relationships, reflection and intentional practice.

Our Master Plan places are now open, with limited spaces available this term so we can give the support, guidance and community our members deserve.

Start your journey with us.

Accreditation when you’re ready.

https://page.thecuriosityapproach.com/masterplan-journey 💫

Remove the visual noise
Calm vs Clutter

At Curiosity Approach settings we often talk about visual noise! ⚠️
What is it ?
Can your eyes SEE it, can they FEEL how LOUD it is ?

We encourage and empower mindful reflection, to view children’s play spaces with FRESH eyes. 👀
To ask you to mindfully reflect and look at the whole picture!

Change the lens and remove the normality sunglasses that can make us immune and oblivious to how it truly FEELS! Sensory overload ?

LESS is MORE and we encourage educators to reflect on all areas of provision and practice.

WHY we do what we do and WHO does it serve ?

A study by Carnegie Mellon University talks about the impact of overly decorated classrooms and how this visual noise can impact a child’s ability to concentrate and well being

Below are a range of Curiosity Approach settings, early childhood centres who are part of our community, each demonstrating we are all unique yet with the same vision, to work tirelessly to create calm tranquil spaces that feel like an extension of home.

We recognise the needs of the WHOLE child, mind body soul. 💖
A space and place that meets their nervous systems needs z

Unlearn and relearn a new way.

Small changes can make a profound impact

Click the link to learn more 👇🏽

https://page.thecuriosityapproach.com/masterplan-journey