How many hours have you spent planning for children’s learning and then to only see their interest suddenly change? Planning for the multiple interests children have may seem impossible, but with utilizing key elements of theory, you can easily do this!

First off, let’s say NO to spending hours in the evenings or going down a Pinterest rabbit hole. Pinky swear!

Instead of focusing your attention on the planning process, let’s shift it to finding opportunities to plan. 

TIME IS THE KEY TO PLANNING

You get the same amount of time each day, there are no additional hours to add. But, you can utilize the time you do have better.

What if you could use your time more efficiently to be able to plan around all the children’s play interests?

Making it easier, less time consuming and opens up opportunities for planning and nourish the multiple interests children have.

Time is a key element to your planning process. Reframing your thinking about it will help you plan for multiple interests. David Hawkins within the Messing About Theory, explored the idea of time and how much children needed to make sense of their ideas through play. What he first thought was that children only needed 45 min! He learned they needed hours!

This helps you, big time!

The more uninterrupted play you can provide which requires time, creates opportunities for you to observe more, document more, and engage in the play.

Planning shouldn’t be frustrating, it should be a wonderful process where you are a researcher and learner alongside the children. 

We as a society have created a very systematic, compartmentalized and organized process for planning that just isn’t how children or even us adults learn. 

There are going to be times where our interests change or we hyper focus on one for a while.  This is part of the natural learning process.  It’s how children learn to.

While you watch the video below, think about how this idea of time can be used differently in your practice to be able to plan around multiple interests and what that might look like for you in your role.

After the video, I want to hear your thoughts!  Write a comment below sharing any insights or takeaways you had.  Or other ways you plan for multiple interests.

PLANNING FOR MULTIPLE INTERESTS IS ABOUT BEING RESPONSIVE

Planning, simply put, is truly a response to your observations, reflections and ideas of what you think the children are trying to make sense of.

When you take off the traditional method hat and put on your researcher hat to respond to the children, this is what makes it fluid and authentic.

You start too curate a community of learning.

The planning cycle is a guide, it’s meant to help us navigate and have a process to follow in a supportive manner. 

To inspire and support you in your role with Planning so that you can feel confident and find your fluid and authentic child led approach, check out these blog posts:

The Early Years Planning Cycle

Plan For “Yes”, Say “No” Less

You may know what the planning cycle is, but putting into practice in your own context is where the fluidity and authenticity comes. 

This is how you feel less overwhelmed and more confident in your role.