Aistear The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework Principles and Themes

What is Aistear?

Aistear is an Irish early years curriculum designed specifically for childcare practitioners planning learning experiences for children aged from birth to 6 years of age. It is designed for use in all early childhood care and education settings including the home, crèche, nursery, play-schools, pre-schools (for example Eclectic, High-Scope, Montessori or Froebel approaches), Naíonraí and Junior Infant classes.

What is Aistear made up of?

The 2 main parts of Aistear are The Prinicples and Themes and Guidelines for Good Practice. Other elements to Aistear include The User Guide and Key Messages from the Research Papers

The Principles and Themes:

Aistear is based on 12 principles presented in 3 groups which are crucial to and underpin early learning and development. They are:

1: Children and their Lives in Early Childhood

• The Child’s Uniqueness
• Equality and Diversity
• Children as Citizens

2. Children’s Connections with Others

•  Relationships
• Parents, family and community
• The adult’s role

3. How Children Learn and Develop

•  Holistic Learning and Development
• Active Learning
• Play and Hands-on experiences
• Relevant and Meaningful Experiences
• Communication and Language
• The Learning Environment