Professor Marek Tesar (University of Auckland) and Dr Vicki Hargraves discuss the importance of incorporating children’s voices into curriculum design and implementation in early childhood settings. Marek draws on his extensive research in cross-cultural contexts to explore both how teachers can capture children’s voices and utilise these in authentic and meaningful ways.

To help you navigate the webinar easily, there is a list of the key topics covered in the session below, including the time each was discussed. The key ideas discussed in this webinar are also shared in a short insight article.

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Topics discussed in this webinar

Times shown in minutes and seconds from the start of the video

Topics discussed in this webinar

Times shown in minutes and seconds from the start of the video

2.29	Why is it important to listen to children?
9.28	Benefits of including children’s voice in curriculum design and implementation
18.00	How to implement children’s voices and perspectives in curriculum and practice
29.53	Practices, structures and dispositions that support teachers in listening to children
36.47	Listening to diverse voices
46.00	How can we know what children are communicating

Questions for exploring the key ideas from this webinar

What time and opportunity do you or can you make for listening to children?

Which children are you listening to most? Are some children harder to listen to? Why is this?

What tools have you developed or might you develop to help you listen to children more effectively?

What impact have you noticed occurs for a child when they feel you have listened to them and taken them seriously?

Further reading

Davies, B. (2014). Listening to children: Being and becoming. Routledge.

Myers, C., Smith, K., Hostler, R. L., & Tesar, M. (in press). Reframing the everyday in early childhood pedagogy: Conceptalising the mundane. More information.