Building Strong Foundations – The EYP way!
The early years are a magical time when little minds are growing, exploring, and learning about the world! During this time, children build important skills that will help them in school and in life. Early Years Programme (EYP) is designed to make learning fun, hands-on, and exciting! We believe that early learning is not just about counting numbers or reading letters—it’s about building confidence, curiosity, and creativity in young learners. Through play, exploration, and meaningful experiences, children develop the skills they need to succeed in the future.
Why the Early Years Matter So Much
A strong Early Years Programme (EYP) ensures that children get the best possible start in life by nurturing their curiosity, confidence, and abilities in a fun and engaging way. At D Y Patil International School we create an environment where children feel safe, excited, and eager to learn. This ensures that they not only do well in school but also become confident learners for life. Children learn in different ways—by touching, playing, asking questions, and trying new things! Here’s how we make learning exciting for them:
1. Learning Through Play:
Play is how young children learn best! In our classrooms, we fill each day with fun activities that help children think, create, and explore. Some of their favorite activities include:
● Building with Blocks – Helps with problem-solving and hand coordination.
● Water Play – Teaches early science concepts like floating, sinking, and measuring.
● Pretend Play (Role-Playing) – Encourages creativity, imagination, and social skills.
These activities make learning fun while helping children grow in different ways!
2. Asking Questions & Exploring:
Young children are naturally curious—they love asking “Why?” and “How?” all the time! Instead of just giving them answers, we encourage them to explore and discover things on their own.
For example, if we are learning about road signs, we might:
● Take a walk outside to find real signs.
● Let children create their own traffic signs using art and craft.
● Talk about why signs are important for safety.
This way, children connect what they learn to real life and remember it better!
3. Learning Outside the Classroom:
Children love exploring nature, and being outdoors is great for their health, happiness, and learning. We provide many exciting outdoor activities such as:
● Nature Walks – Help children observe plants, animals, and the environment.
● Treasure Hunts & Letter Hunts – Make learning letters and words more exciting!
● Chalk Drawing & Outdoor Storytelling – Encourage creativity and self-expression.
● Water Play & Parachute Games – Build teamwork and motor skills.
To make learning even more special, we also:
● Take children on field trips to see and learn new things.
● Invite guest speakers (like doctors, artists, or firefighters) to talk about their jobs!
These experiences bring learning to life and make children excited to explore new topics!
4. Connecting Learning to Real Life:
We help children connect different subjects so they can understand the world around them. For example:
● Shapes & Colors in Traffic Signs – Learning math through real-life objects.
● Storytelling & Drama – Improving communication skills through pretend play.
● Music & Dance – Encouraging rhythm, movement, and self-expression.
By linking different areas of learning, children develop deeper understanding instead of just memorizing facts.
At D Y Patil International School, we believe that the early years are the foundation for a lifetime of learning, growth, and success. By creating an engaging, supportive, and stimulating learning environment, we ensure that every child:
● Feels happy and excited to learn
● Develops important life skills alongside academic knowledge.
● Gains the confidence to explore, discover, and grow.
When children experience joy in learning at an early age, they carry that love for learning with them throughout their lives. This is why investing in early childhood education is so important, it sets children up for a future filled with possibilities, creativity, and success!
Early childhood education is a cornerstone of lifelong learning, shaping the cognitive, emotional, and social development of young learners. At D Y Patil International School, our Early Years Program (EYP) emphasizes hands-on learning and exploration, creating an enriching environment where children develop essential skills for their future. These skills also help to support students’ sense of agency, encouraging them to see their learning as an active and dynamic process. Although the ATLs are relevant from 3 to 19 years of age, it is particularly important for PYP teachers to interpret these skills in ways that are appropriate for early and primary years learners. All teachers foster and support the development of these skills by providing opportunities embedded in authentic learning experiences. The approaches to learning develop cognitive and metacognitive skills, which are transferable to different types of learning and school contexts. When combined with the learner profile, development of the approaches to learning will help students learn how to learn and become self- regulated, active, These activities promote cognitive development and foster a love for learning. Early childhood education sets the stage for lifelong learning and academic success by creating a positive and stimulating learning environment.
Author: Ms. Safna Karbhari (EYP Homeroom Teacher)
