ENGAGEMENT - Playing & Exploring

Finding out and exploring:

• Showing curiosity about objects, events and people
• Using senses to explore the world around them
• Engaging in open-ended activity
• Showing particular interests

Playing with what they know:

• Pretending objects are things from their experience
• Representing their experiences in play
• Taking on a role in their play
• Acting out experiences with other people

Being willing to 'have a go':

• Initiating activities
• Seeking challenge
• Showing a 'can do' attitude
• Taking a risk, engaging in new experiences, and learning by trial and error

MOTIVATION - Active Learning

Being involved and concentrating:

• Maintaining focus on their activity for a period of time
• Showing high levels of energy, fascination
• Not easily distracted
• Paying attention to details

Keep on trying:

• Persisting with activity when challenges occur
• Showing a belief that more effort or a different approach will pay off
• Bouncing back after difficulties

Enjoying achieving what they set out to do:

• Showing satisfaction in meeting their own goals
• Being proud of how they accomplished something - not just the end result
• Enjoying meeting challenges for their own sake rather than external rewards or praise

THINKING - Creating & Thinking Critically

Having their own ideas:

• Thinking of ideas
• Finding ways to solve problems
• Finding new ways to do things

Making links:

• Making links and noticing patterns in their experience
• Making predictions
• Testing their ideas
• Developing ideas of grouping, sequences, cause and effect

Choosing ways to do things:

• Planning, making decisions about whom to approach a task, solve a problem & reach a goal
• Checking how well their activities are going
• Changing strategy as needed
• Reviewing how well the approach worked