Early Years Professional Development Centre

Reflective practices are usually part of the experiences of most adults working with young children. However, what most adults don’t realize is that there are a number of stages involved in reflective thinking. Reflective thinking is a process that is ongoing and that helps adults to create more meaningful experiences for children.

Applications of the reflective process can be categorized under the following areas: the facilitators’ identification of personal knowledge, interaction patterns of children and adults, the organization of the learning spaces within the children’s environments, children’s experiences and overall time considerations.

Reflective thinking is a process that is ongoing and that helps adults to create more meaningful experiences for children. Part 2 focuses on the environment, children's experiences, use of time and appropriate practices.

This is a module designed for practicing Early Childhood Educators who desire to review elements of their current practice with the intention of designing, implementing and altering parts of their practice to meet the particular needs of very young children and improving their responsiveness to, and interactions with, babies and toddlers. Your reflection might be on a major scale, or be related to a more minor issue that would be addressed. An integral part of the philosophy must be reflective of culture and family; not only the individual child.

This module is an overview of Reflective practice, and part of a series designed for infant and toddler professionals. The first module is relevant to all age groups as a starting point for the journey of reflective practice.