Writing in the book, Cultivating Curriculum in Early Childhood Organizations, Carol B. Hillman discusses the “intangibles” we want to provide for children in “the child care centers around the world, the nursery schools, the public schools and the home care settings.” She asks, “What is it we want young children to know beyond the alphabet and numbers, beyond the days of the week, the colors of the rainbow, beyond what testing is looking for?” Here are some of her answers:
“It is imperative that all rooms…be places where experimentation is honored and children feel free to take chances…
It is here, in this safe environment that children can learn the pleasures of a deep work ethic…
In this safe environment children have the opportunity to take risks, to see others take risks, to be successful – and sometimes fail…
This is also a time to witness that adults are less than perfect people, that they make mistakes too.”
