Top tips: Following the child’s interests
Children learn best when they are motivated, curious and deeply engaged. By following children’s interests, practitioners create meaningful learning experiences that build on what children already know and care about. These top tips for following the child’s interests support early years teams to remain responsive and reflective while keeping the child at the centre of practice.
Top tips for following the child’s interests
- Observe first: Effective practice begins with careful observation. Notice what children repeatedly choose, talk about and return to in their play
- Be flexible: Children’s interests can shift quickly, so planning should remain adaptable. Be prepared to adjust activities, routines and enhancements to follow emerging fascinations and allow time for deep, meaningful exploration
- Listen to children: Children communicate their interests in many ways — through talk, actions, gestures and repeated play themes. Value their ideas, respond to their questions and provide opportunities for them to make choices about their learning
- Provide open-ended resources: Offer loose parts, natural materials, small world items and open-ended creative resources that allow children to use their imagination. Open-ended materials encourage independence and give children control over the direction of their play
- Extend but don’t take over: When a child shows interest in something, extend their learning by introducing new vocabulary, asking open-ended questions and adding carefully chosen resources. Support and deepen their thinking without dominating or redirecting their play
- Work with families: Parents and carers provide valuable insight into children’s current fascinations. Regularly share observations and invite families to contribute information from home, helping to create continuity between nursery and family life
- Reflect as a team: Regular professional discussions help ensure that children’s interests remain central to practice. Reflect together on whether planning is genuinely child-led and whether all staff are responding consistently and effectively
- Keep curriculum in mind: Following children’s interests supports the principles of the Early Years Foundation Stage. Map emerging interests across areas of learning to ensure progression while maintaining high levels of engagement
- And always remember – when children are deeply engaged, behaviour improves, language develops and learning becomes more meaningful. Engagement is one of the strongest indicators of effective early years practice.
And always remember – when children are deeply engaged, behaviour improves, language develops and learning becomes more meaningful. Engagement is one of the strongest indicators of effective early years practice.
NDNA products to support you with this tip
Developing high quality practice – In Person Nursery training
Developing High Quality Practice – Live Virtual Classroom
Disclaimer: Activities with children must always be risk assessed, including for allergies or choking. Children must always have adequate supervision. Resources and materials must always be appropriate for children’s age and stage of development.
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