What is Emergent Curriculum?

At GHCNS, we embrace a play-based, child-led, emergent curriculum. While these terms can sometimes sound like educational buzzwords, we believe it’s important to explain what they truly mean. We want families to understand what a child-led, emergent curriculum is, why we value this approach, and how it guides the play-based experiences that shape our daily activities.

What Is an Emergent Curriculum?

Emergent curriculum is a child-centered approach to early childhood education that builds learning experiences around children’s interests, questions, and developmental needs. Unlike predetermined, teacher-directed programs, emergent curriculum grows from careful observation, documentation, and ongoing dialogue between educators and children. Simply put, instead of following a rigid plan, teachers thoughtfully design experiences based on what excites and engages the children in the moment.

For example, if children become fascinated by bugs on the playground, teachers might guide them in observing insects, creating bug art, reading stories about habitats, or even building a “bug hotel.” Learning emerges naturally from their curiosity.

Why We Value This Approach

Research shows that children learn best when they are actively involved in meaningful, hands-on experiences. A child-led, emergent curriculum:

• Boosts engagement and motivation – Children are more focused and excited when learning connects to their own interests

• Encourages creativity and critical thinking – Open-ended play and projects allow children to ask questions, solve problems, and express ideas in unique ways

• Supports holistic development – Social, emotional, cognitive, and physical growth all happen together through rich, play-based experiences

• Builds strong relationships – Teachers act as co-learners, listening and responding to children’s ideas, which strengthens trust and confidence

What It Looks Like at GHCNS

At GHCNS, play is at the heart of everything we do. Our teachers carefully observe children’s conversations, play patterns, and questions to discover what they are curious about. We then plan hands-on, play-based activities that build on those interests. You might see:

• Children working together to build a fort after reading a story about animals’ homes

• A group collecting leaves and sorting them by size, sparking conversations about nature and science

• Children acting out a favorite book in dramatic play, building early literacy and social skills

Through these experiences, children are not just playing—they are developing problem-solving skills, learning to work with others, expressing themselves creatively, and gaining a lifelong love of learning.

Our goal at GHCNS is to nurture curious, confident, and capable learners. By following a play-based, child-led, emergent curriculum, we honor children’s natural desire to explore and discover, helping them grow into enthusiastic, self-motivated learners.