There are 4 foundations for learning: Belonging, Well-being, Engagement, and Expression.
Belonging: As children engage in various forms of social play and are supported to recognize the varied capabilities and characteristics of other children, they learn to get along with others; to negotiate, collaborate, and communicate; and to care for others (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2014).
Well-being: Children thrive in programs where they can engage in vigorous physical play in natural outdoor spaces and playgrounds that present manageable levels of challenge. While these environments need to be safe, it is also important for them to provide children with interesting opportunities for a reasonable degree of risk-taking (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2014).
Engagement: Children benefit significantly from having long periods of time to explore in environments equipped with interesting, open-ended materials that can be used in many ways, inviting investigation and complex play (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2014).
Expression: Communication also happens through creative expression. When children manipulate materials, explore music and movement, create symbols (e.g., mark-making), and engage in imaginative expression (e.g., visual art) and dramatic play, they are communicating. Creating and designing fuse together the cognitive, emotional, and physical domains – thinking, feeling, and doing (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2014).
Ontario Ministry of Education. (2014). How does learning happen: Ontario’s pedagogy for the early years. Retrieved from http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/childcare/HowLearningHappens.pdf