What Finland can teach us about early learning

A few days ago, one of our teachers shared an article with us entitled Finnish Kids Don't Learn To Read In Kindergarten. They Turn Out Great Anyway.  The philosophy we hold here at Children's Discovery Center is to provide a play-based environment in which children are encouraged to ask questions, problem solve and discover about the world around them through games, activities and an environment in which they are the 'drivers' of their learning.  Because of this, an article with this title immediately grabbed our attention.  

After reading it as well as another article discussed within it, we have really begun to realize just how important our philosophy is to the development of well-rounded individuals.  

Not only are we sharing this philosophy with parents both in and outside of our school community, I have even applied it to the way I look at my own Kindergarten daughter's learning.  My sweet 5 year old girl is creative, very social, inquisitive and one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life.  She is on the cusp of being a 'reader' and has been working hard on her own to develop her writing and math skills.  But, after reading the article about the Finland schools, I am finding myself not pressuring her to do more than she is ready for.  I've always wanted to let her be herself in every way possible, but fell victim to trying to get her to measure up with her school's standards for her grade level.  Now, I'm focusing more on what she loves (singing, dancing, talking, drawing) and less on what the school district says she should be able to do (memorize star words, write numbers, read independently).  We are keeping up with her homework, of course, and not letting her completely fall behind academically.  But, my approach is much more relaxed and it is showing in her confidence.  She is wanting to do more of her monthly 'homework' each evening.  She is choosing the things which are more academically focused and are not as natural for her.  The difference is that I realized that she was not going to go off to college not reading.  She will eventually be able to recognize "the" and "that" on sight.  One day, she will write every number and be able to manipulate them with ease to solve a problem.  That will all happen.  It doesn't have to happen now.  Her age (and younger!) is when children are deciding who they are.  It's when their personalities really become apparent.  It's the time when relationships are built, friendships are formed and communication skills are developed.  It's when they discover the world around them on their own terms and apply it for the rest of their lives.  Our job as early childhood educators and parents is to simply allow for opportunities for all of this to happen and let them go!