Opening minds as an Early Childhood Professional taught me to keep my mind open. And my ears and my eyes and my heart. Often it was imaginative play where I learned the greatest lessons.

Sarah: Let’s play school. I’ll be the teacher, you are the student and the teddy bears can be the other kids.
Maya: Yeah, I’ll be in grade 2 so I can read a book.
Sarah: You are only 5 and you can’t read yet.
Maya: But the other kids don’t know that.

In this very brief interaction the girls created a world of leadership and confidence. Sarah chose to be the teacher and Maya was convinced she was going to read.

As a Childhood Educator my role was to design programs to make learning fun. These moments of teaching increased my commitment to literacy, education and children’s development.

The partnership that educators have with children, families and communities is integral for learning.