Close your eyes and envision strolling past vibrant green landscapes toward the colourful corridors. Walking, you observe children joyfully jumping and playing hopscotch on the corridor floor. The air is filled with laughter and giggles. Upon entering the classroom, your day commences with warm hugs, smiles, and shared stories. Such is the delightful beginning of my day as an Early Years facilitator.

Our curriculum is based on play, and the classroom is transformed into a dynamic playground of discovery. Different centres are made for our young learners to explore, experiment, and create. If you ask me my personal favourite, it is the art corner where the tiny hands dip into a palette of colours, giving life to imagination on a blank piece of paper or wall, even a table.

However, our young learners like to experiment with crayons, applying the third law of physics by Breaking every crayon. In the construction zone, our kids have fun with the Jodo blocks, using their creative power to the fullest. My students made a building for each of them, denoting the floors where they will live. All the plans were made while making the building. This was the most heartwarming collaboration I ever saw.

Playdough, puzzles, and sensory bins stimulate young minds. I took my children out for a morning stroll and ended up playing the game ‘Molding the imaginative dough’. They moulded the imaginative play dough and even came up with what they made and the colour of the object they were moulding.

In the early years of education, each day is a blank canvas, waiting to be filled with the strokes of play, learning, and the boundless potential of young minds. It’s a journey of discovery and wonder where every child’s unique potential is nurtured and celebrated, creating beautiful memories.

The beauty of early years education lies in its holistic approach. It’s not just about teaching ABCs and 123s; it’s about fostering creativity, imagination, and social skills. Through play, children learn to communicate, problem-solve, and express themselves. They develop confidence, resilience, and a love for learning that will stay with them for life.

As an Early Years facilitator, my role is not just to impart knowledge but to create a nurturing environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to explore the world around them. Every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth, and it’s incredibly rewarding to witness the progress and development of each child.

But perhaps the most magical moments are those spontaneous acts of creativity and kindness that happen when children are given the freedom to play and explore. Whether it’s building a tower out of blocks, painting a masterpiece, or simply sharing a laugh with a friend, these are the moments that make the early years of education truly special.

So, as we embark on this journey together, let’s embrace the joy of early years education and celebrate the endless possibilities that lie ahead. Because with a little imagination and a lot of love, anything is possible.

Aditi Sharma

Teacher, EYP 2