Chapter 5: Grounded Theory

Early childhood education is an area of practice and research that involves many complex processes. Children and teachers are constantly negotiating and forming meanings about each other and the world through play and inquiry-based projects. A child-centered early childhood classroom is about fostering curiosity, encouraging exploration, embracing discovery, and, of critical importance, honoring process over product. Experienced teachers understand the importance of balancing structure and freedom. Indeed, experienced teachers know that children’s sense of freedom to explore their world flourishes best when the structure of their learning environment provides them with the safety and consistency to let their curiosity lead the way. The structure of an early childhood environment provides a net, so to speak, that metaphorically holds children safely and frees them to really dive in to learn about the world around them.