Professional Development in Anji Play
Whilst some parts of the world are locked into debates about testing four year olds, and whether a didactic versus a constructivist approach is more effective, something very different is evolving in China, where a child’s right to learn through self-determined play is being respected. So, how did Ms Cheng, the founder of Anji Play, change the thinking of educators throughout Anji County? And how is this well-established approach of Anji Play now beginning to change the thinking surrounding Early Childhood across China and beyond. Promoting and leading change is never an easy journey. During my time on the eight-day Anji Play study tour, I learned about the complexity of this change, from the principals and educators of the most inspiring Early Childhood settings I have had the honour of stepping inside
How many hours have you spent working on prepared materials, setting up beautiful role play areas and dedicating your time to designing ‘play’ for children? What if it did not have to be this way? What if your time could be spent analysing and discussing your children’s learning dispositions with other Early Childhood educators? What difference would this make to children’s play and learning? In Anji, the educators are continually working together to discover the answers to these questions.
By providing minimally structured materials and carefully designed landscapes, the children design their own play, based on their ideas and inspirations. By structuring learning this way, the teachers time together is freed up to engage in reflective dialogue.