What is the Pedagogy of Care?
by Emily Ford
1. Do seemingly menial tasks offer educational purpose?
1.1. They do! By taking smaller tasks on as learnable moments, we as educators can show our students the importance of taking care of ones self.
2. Care requires knowledge.
2.1. Simply carrying out tasks on a child will not teach them anything, and will build up to dehumanization. It is important to know how to carry out these tasks with a child as a part of the process.
3. Children are constantly learning.
3.1. By modeling and explaining certain care tasks, the child will retain this information so that they are able to do it themselves.
4. There is no difference between education and care in early childhood education.
4.1. In the early stages of life, what may be mundane to an adult or older child is new and exciting to a young child. Many things are still new to them, and need to be taught. Even learning to zip their coat is an educational moment requiring fine motor skills and concentration.
5. Authentic care fosters independence.
5.1. While we should model how to do things, we should not make sure everything is done perfectly. Instead of washing a child's hands yourself, model how to wash hands and then allow them to do so. Help when needed, not when you want things to be done quickly.
6. Children are allowed to engage in human tasks.
6.1. Children should be given the opportunity to do many things independently. Feeding, dressing, and mimicking behaviors they see at home should be given ample opportunity to be practiced and explored.
