What is Reflective Practice in Childcare?

As Early Childhood Educators, we encounter various situations and events on a daily basis – from routine interactions with little ones, to new and unexpected challenges. To ensure that we can continue providing the best possible learning environment for children, at Mary Mackillop Childcare North Queensland, we integrate reflective practice in our care. 

Reflective practice is when educators take a step back to assess, understand, and break down situations and events to foster ongoing learning and development. It’s a chance to stop, reflect, and build on an Educator's strengths and skills in the care environment. 

Childcare centres that encourage a culture of learning through reflective practice drive improvement and growth for Educators to create deeper connections with children and more compassionate, nurturing care.  

What is reflective practice in childcare?

Reflective practice is the practice of stopping to reflect on situations, events, behaviours, and challenges while caring for children. Reflective practice ultimately helps Educators understand why things happen by examining and challenging a situation or experience. It helps us recognise good practices and change what is not working well. When Educators reflect, we can learn from experiences, improve our approach, and provide better care for children.

In addition to reflecting on what happened, reflective practice encourages Educators to evaluate why it happened and how it can be improved with a new perspective. By assessing all angles of the situation with fresh eyes, Educators also have the space to come up with new and creative ways to foster a conducive learning environment for children. 

Different types of reflective practice 

There are two main types of reflective practice that can be beneficial in different scenarios. The different types of reflective practice include:

Reflection-in-Action

This reflection is spontaneous. Most Educators engage in reflection-in-action as they make decisions to respond to what happens throughout the day. This reflective practice consists of being aware when new situations present themselves or when old strategies don’t seem to work. By observing and listening to these events when they arise, Educators can devise a solution to solve the problem with an unobjective perspective.

Reflection-on-Action

This type of reflection involves thinking about an event or experience after it has happened. Reflection-on-action allows Educators to take on an inquiry stance to actively search for an understanding of how and why an event occurred and are open to further investigation.

Examples of reflective practice in childcare

Some examples of reflective practice in childcare include:

Observing children closely: A big part of reflective practice is to observe children closely. When Educators take the time to observe children and foster a relationship with them, they can gain insights into their thinking and learning and can sense when something is wrong or upsetting them.

Be aware of any events that take place: Educators must supervise at all times to guarantee the safety of the children and be aware of any events. When Educators observe and supervise children, they are privy to any event that takes place so they can reflect-in-action or reflect-on-action.

Questioning: Self-assessment and collaboration with others through questions can challenge expectations and analyse current practices. This allows Educators to come up with solutions to what they can do to support families and children further. Questions can include “What can we implement to further care for children?” and “What strategies are we currently using to help children and families settle into the centre, and is it working?”

Documenting upon reflection: Documenting meaningful information can force critical reflection and allow Educators to continue developing and implementing positive change. Gathering information both individually and in a group setting will enrich decision-making about caring for children. 

Benefits of reflective practice in early learning

The reality is, children learn in different ways. There are no hard and fast rules that are going to work for every child; which is why reflective practice is so beneficial in Educators learning about the children they work with, and how to best adapt and care for these children.

Ultimately, the goal of reflective practice in early learning is for Educators to gain a better understanding of and improve their practices when caring for children. This has many benefits, as it drives continuous improvement and focuses attention on providing quality services for all children and families.

As you may expect, effective Educators continually reflect on and improve their practices. Educators who stop and think about their actions and practices are encouraged to change, resulting in a better experience for the child. 

Final thoughts

At Mary MacKillop Childcare North Queensland, we are focused on providing high-quality care to families across North Queensland, and to do this, our Educators engage in reflective practices. 

We believe in the importance of reflective practices in building a strong foundation for children's growth and development in a supportive and nurturing environment. Contact our team today to book a tour and enrol your child in one of North Queensland’s leading early learning centres.