Assessment 1: Exercise – Child as capable and competent 30%
Write: Demonstrate your understanding of the child as capable and competent (500 words)
According to the Reggio Approach (2014), every child is perceived as confident, competent, and powerful. It further explains us how this powerful and strong image of a
child who is independent and can express their own opinions and ideas would still need an adult to just listen to them and work as a team rather than being a
stereotypical adult who is always in charge and firm.
We often look at children and feel that they always need an adult to guide them with every little step because they still don’t understand how to conduct things on their
own. I know so many people out there including me who have been raised and bought up in a very overprotected household. It is no joke that the era we are living in
currently is nothing but a society full of overprotected parents where they stop their children from growing or learning things as it could end up hurting them.
Sometimes they forget that it is okay to make mistakes as that is the part of the child’s learning process and experience. I came across this case study which
demonstrated a real-life example witnessed by a mother which made her realize that children are very much capable on their own and they just need to be observed.
So, this mother had taken her son to the park, while her child was busy playing, she notices these two girls who were trying very hard to climb a tall tree, but they failed
multiple times. It looked quite challenging for them as they were too small in height to physically climb that, but they eventually made it on to the smallest branch of the
tree and were very happy with their achievement. They were spending some time on the tree, chatting, and playing with each other when someone (probably related to
them) comes to them and asks the girls to get down, so they don’t hurt themselves and that it could be so dangerous to which the girls replied by saying that they were
fine and wanted to play for a longer time. That is when the mother who was observing this mentioned that she really felt bad and wish she could do something about it
as she saw the look on their faces. (NaturesPlays SA 2022)
I realized from the child’s perspective that this would have been really upsetting for the child as they knew that they were fine, and nothing happened to them, but a
choice was made for them which indirectly showed that the adult was not able to find them capable or confident in what they were trying to achieve. This eventually
leads the child to self-doubt and reduces their confidence in doing things they can but are not motivated to do it anymore as there is no one to cheer after them or
appreciate them.
A child can only be capable when they are given a chance to explore that opportunity or freedom. Children are competent and capable, the only thing which needs to
strongly change is the image and perspective we have created about children. One strong message an adult should understand from this is to trust children and believe
that they are capable, to allow them to be themselves and make their own choices and let the creativity do the talking for them. We are meant to guide and support
Write: Demonstrate your understanding of the child as capable and competent (500 words)
According to the Reggio Approach (2014), every child is perceived as confident, competent, and powerful. It further explains us how this powerful and strong image of a
child who is independent and can express their own opinions and ideas would still need an adult to just listen to them and work as a team rather than being a
stereotypical adult who is always in charge and firm.
We often look at children and feel that they always need an adult to guide them with every little step because they still don’t understand how to conduct things on their
own. I know so many people out there including me who have been raised and bought up in a very overprotected household. It is no joke that the era we are living in
currently is nothing but a society full of overprotected parents where they stop their children from growing or learning things as it could end up hurting them.
Sometimes they forget that it is okay to make mistakes as that is the part of the child’s learning process and experience. I came across this case study which
demonstrated a real-life example witnessed by a mother which made her realize that children are very much capable on their own and they just need to be observed.
So, this mother had taken her son to the park, while her child was busy playing, she notices these two girls who were trying very hard to climb a tall tree, but they failed
multiple times. It looked quite challenging for them as they were too small in height to physically climb that, but they eventually made it on to the smallest branch of the
tree and were very happy with their achievement. They were spending some time on the tree, chatting, and playing with each other when someone (probably related to
them) comes to them and asks the girls to get down, so they don’t hurt themselves and that it could be so dangerous to which the girls replied by saying that they were
fine and wanted to play for a longer time. That is when the mother who was observing this mentioned that she really felt bad and wish she could do something about it
as she saw the look on their faces. (NaturesPlays SA 2022)
I realized from the child’s perspective that this would have been really upsetting for the child as they knew that they were fine, and nothing happened to them, but a
choice was made for them which indirectly showed that the adult was not able to find them capable or confident in what they were trying to achieve. This eventually
leads the child to self-doubt and reduces their confidence in doing things they can but are not motivated to do it anymore as there is no one to cheer after them or
appreciate them.
A child can only be capable when they are given a chance to explore that opportunity or freedom. Children are competent and capable, the only thing which needs to
strongly change is the image and perspective we have created about children. One strong message an adult should understand from this is to trust children and believe
that they are capable, to allow them to be themselves and make their own choices and let the creativity do the talking for them. We are meant to guide and support
