ABSTRACT
This chapter examines three themes, communicating, exploring and thinking. They are interlinked and focus on active learning and what might be called the early academic development of young children. Drawing on the idea of the many different languages that young children use it takes a close look at the various ways in which children communicate from the infants crying and cooing to the body language and linguistic skills of young children. The themes of exploring and thinking provide the basis for examining how children develop their understanding of the world through activity and meaning-making and how this can inform high quality, effective early childhood pedagogy. It looks closely at the learning environment and how educators can design and utilise playful spaces that encourage the development of children’s thinking towards the higher order thinking and executive function which form the basis of positive learning.
