There are moments of awe and wonder around us each and every day.  However, sometimes, we, as adults, are too busy or not in the right headspace to appreciate them.  For children, though, their natural curiosity means they are often much more attuned to moments of fascination.

Defining awe and wonder…

It’s a beautiful moment where a child is mesmerised by something.  During this moment, children are experiencing a strong connection – they are focused, interested and engaged.  Sometimes, awe and wonder arises from a moment we have planned, but often it is spontaneous, occurring as a result of the child’s innate drive to explore and be curious within their environment.  What sparks this awe can be different for each child but we do know that the natural world can offer us a wealth of beauty which can inspire all children, just on different levels.  It is these experiences which ground us and can move us emotionally.  It could be the first time a child has seen a frosty cobweb on a cold morning, a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, a rainbow appearing after a storm or finding a big, wiggly worm when we’re playing in the digging pit.

Why is awe and wonder so special?

Children naturally have a sense of wonder, something many of us see diminish as we get older.  We become immersed in our busy lives, focused on work, family life, caring responsibilities, money worries…the list goes on.  Our world lacks the simplicity we experience in childhood, impacting on our ability to notice and appreciate the world around us. 

Even children have busy childhoods with many modern distractions.  Think about what childhood looks like now compared to when you were a child – how is it different? There is much discussion to be had around the impact and influence of technology, risk averse parenting and the datafication of Early Years.  To counteract this, it is valuable to ensure children get to experience the awe and wonder of the world around them.

The role of the adult…

As educators, it is important for us to be present and in the moment with children.  We need to be tuned in and emotionally available, as well as physically.  This can be challenging in busy settings where there are routines to follow, administrative tasks to complete and staff to cover for.  However, it is important to factor in time for children to feel inspired and empowered and we can achieve this through not only our provision in Early Years but also our practice.

Educators have a role in facilitating an environment whereby children are motivated to play, explore and find those magical moments.  Audits will help settings to assess their provision, indoors and outdoors, and understand what it feels like to be a child in the environment. Look at the space from the child’s height, seeing things through their lens.

In terms of practice, an educator can inspire and empower children to seek out and appreciate moments of wonder.  We need to step inside the child’s world and see things from their perspective.  Observe as the child notices something they connect with.  Watch their body language and be an active listener – communication is more than just what a child says. You’ll witness a moment of delight, and this is when you can share in the fascination.  It is the interaction that can add value to the experience for the child, helping to bring meaning.  How you react with your body language, your words and how you share in the magic can influence the child’s engagement. Be excited, surprised and listen as the child expresses their wonder.  However, remember that for some children, the way they express their wonder may be non-verbal, but no less valuable. 

Children are unique, and many different experiences may hold value and joy, with many different responses. It is our role to open up these experiences to all, providing an environment which is diverse and inclusive.

Awe and wonder and sustained shared thinking…

Experiencing moments of awe and wonder can be valuable in terms of a child’s learning and development.  Through the process of sustained shared thinking, we can really tune in to the child’s thoughts and ideas.  It is a precious way of connecting and sharing in the wonder as they process what they are observing.  These moments are not a time to impose learning as this puts parameters on the moment and can inhibit the experience - we need to be mindful of our interactions. Instead, we can wonder with the child, using language which encourages thinking and the sharing of ideas between adult and child.

The process of sustained shared thinking is rooted in curiosity rather than answering questions and our language should reflect this.  We can offer a running commentary, ask ‘I wonder….’ or talk about what you see.  This brings the moment to life, with both adult and child making sense of what they are observing.  We act as a role model, sharing our own thoughts and ideas –

‘I wonder where the ladybird is going…’

‘The cobweb is glistening but I wonder how it happened.’

‘What a pretty rainbow.  I wonder where it ends.’

‘The bee has gone right inside the flower.  I wonder what he’s doing.’

‘There was water in the tray yesterday but now there’s ice.  I wonder what happened overnight.’

Statements such as these, and open ended questions, prompt children to think out loud, wonder and share their ideas. It’s a fantastic way to nurture language development, especially in light of the increased focus on this area of learning in the revised Early Years Foundation Stage.  When we employ sustained shared thinking strategies, we are working with the child, helping them feel valued, included and inspired by the awe and wonder all around them.

The impact of awe and wonder on learning and development…

Connecting with children as they experience moments of awe and wonder can enable us to encourage thinking skills, helping them to process what they are observing.  We can engage in interesting back and forth interactions, extending vocabulary and exploring concepts related to different areas of learning, such as shape, space, measure, colour and texture. 

When children experience awe and wonder, it can act as a hook to explore the subject further.  Watching a snail slither its way across the garden can lead to investigating patterns, reading books such as The Snail and the Whale and making snails out of play dough.  This builds on the child’s initial interest, facilitating an environment which is inspiring and helps them to make sense of their experiences.  We know that children learn best when they are interested.

Awe and wonder can really help engage children, impacting on their communication and language development in Early Years and beyond.  Not only do these quality interactions influence language development in terms of vocabulary, understanding and listening skills, but it is also valuable for those children who are non-verbal.  We can recognise that although a child is not communicating verbally, they are able to experience and express their delight at the awe and wonder around them.  They can express themselves through their body language, facial expressions, gestures and emotions which we can interpret and give words to.  We might have children in our settings and classes who speak English as an Additional Language (EAL), and who may express their feelings in their home language or through body language and gestures.  Awe and wonder can give all children a voice, we just need to tune in.

When children are experiencing awe and wonder, they are learning to make sense of the world around them, building points of reference and enriching their lives.  These moments encourage future interactions with the natural world, further enhancing learning and development.  We know that children are powerful learners with a natural drive to be curious and we can build on this, valuing spontaneous opportunities for children to be wowed but also ensuring our curriculum and pedagogy supports these early magical experiences.

Finally…

Children have been on the earth just a short time.  Everything is amazing and wondrous to them, especially when experienced for the first time.  No matter how many times we have seen a rainbow, or a frosty cobweb, we must still remember the magic of these moments from the perspective of a child.  Take time to connect with children - their wonder at the natural world is contagious and joyous.