Founders Lyndsey Hellyn and Stephanie Bennett
If you are a parent, this article highlights what is the Curiosity Approach and how curiosity approach nurseries are completely play-based. This approach aims to encourage your child’s natural curiosity and eagerness to explore and create. They become thinkers and doers. For example, modern toys and technology are removed and replaced with everyday items.
The Curiosity Approach puts your child at the centre of their own development and education. The approach draws on various other philosophies of early years education, including the Reggio Emilia approach, Te Whãriki, Montessori, Pikler and Steiner.
Who created the Curiosity Approach?
The Curiosity Approach was co-founded by Lyndsey Hellyn and Stephanie Bennett, who run six nurseries in the Midlands. Ms Hellyn is the owner of The Nest Nursery Ltd while Ms Bennett runs Kidaroo Childcare and Love 2 Learn.
Between them, they have some 50 years’ experience in childcare.
If your child attends a Curiosity Approach setting, it will be painted in neutral colours and has easily accessible, loose resources. Unlike other nurseries, you will not see plastic toys. Curiosity approach nurseries are instead full of ordinary, real-life items, made of wood or other natural materials.
This encourages the child to create their own toys to play with while simultaneously learning about the world. The children have to use their imagination to figure out what each item is for and how to use it. This is instead of being given a toy with a fixed identity which shapes how a child will play it. The Curiosity Approach gives the children control to shape the play, rather than the toy shaping and limiting the play.
Ms Hellyn told daynurseries.co.uk that replicating a child’s home is crucial, rather than trying to be a watered-down version of a school.
“When they’re in our care, it’s a ‘home from home’ experience. It’s completely play-based and led by the child,” she said.
Watch Ms Hellyn and Ms Bennett tell the story of why they named it the Curiosity Approach and what goes on at Curiosity Approach nurseries.
In part two (see below), Lyndsey and Stephanie discuss the importance of play, the impact technology has on children and how you measure success in the early years.
How does the Curiosity Approach work?
The clue is in the name. The philosophy is centred around the natural curiosity which we are all born with. Children are in a calm, stress-free environment filled with open-ended resources available at eye-level, allows them to figure things out themselves.
Neutral-coloured walls and floors create a tranquil environment. The focus lands on the loose items which the children can play with. In Curiosity Approach Nurseries, children are challenged to use all their senses to discover how different materials feel, sound and how they interact.
This encourages children to think for themselves and build confidence without the need for guidance. The loose parts (which can include anything from cutlery to nuts and bolts) can be used in an endless number of ways. Children can use their creativity, imagination, critical thinking, problem-solving and more to teach themselves.
This lets children explore the various textures and possibilities of authentic resources, incorporating learning into play. Items can be lined up, counted, combined, be used for drawing or writing.
Many of the resources scattered around Curiosity Approach settings invite children to play and learn together. Blankets, teepees, play dough and other things encourage role play and the expressive arts.
Creating a ‘home from home setting’
Creating a ‘home from home’ experience is central. Curiosity Approach nurseries emphasize creating a calm, secure and welcoming environment, where children feel loved and valued.
The Danish word of ‘Hygge’ is used when “acknowledging a feeling or moment, whether alone or with friends, at home or out, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special.” This is central to the Curiosity Approach, providing children with a safe space during early childhood which makes them feel supported to become confident, competent and inquisitive learners.
It also adds to the sense of belonging and well-being of each child, which is a part of the approach that takes its inspiration from the Te Whãriki philosophy, which has its roots in New Zealand.
The importance of play
To ensure childhood is celebrated and early years is not just a form of preparation for school, Curiosity Approach nurseries are fully play-based. Each child is led by their own curiosity.
Ms Bennet told daynurseries.co.uk that childhoods are getting “shorter and shorter”. She said formal learning is increasingly becoming part of early childhood education.
“We’ve got to get play back,” she said. “So many children are coming into our settings who are losing, or have lost, the ability to play. They’ve been zoned out, tunnel-visioned by computer screens, television. They’re losing their creativity and imagination.”
Watch Ms Hellyn and Ms Bennett discuss the importance of play, the negative impact of screens and how measuring success in early years should be avoided.
Seeking the right nursery for your child can leave parents with lots to consider. Check out our guide to Finding a nursery for advice on the factors you should consider and questions to ask nursery staff.
For information on what help you can get with childcare costs, visit Nursery fees advice to learn more.
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