The following account, by a home-based early childhood caregiver, d emonstrates the rich learning opportunities which are a key feature of learning in the home. R and M are two under-five year old children. The account was included in a recently published research paper on learning in home-based settings.

It was a cold morning and when I went to fill the wood basket R noticed it emptied our supply by the door, and suggested we chop some more.

We loaded the wheelbarrow from the woodpile, all children helping, and took it to the chopping block. All four watched from a safe distance on the step while I chopped. We explored how one big piece of wood became two pieces and those pieces could be chopped to make four pieces. This is the foundation for understanding fractions.

M was interested in the patterns in the wood and the way it had lines in it and colours, some light and dark. Size and shape was discussed and we had a look at the big conifer out by the road to make the link between the wood and the fact it came from a tree.

This was quite a surprise for M who showed genuine incredulity. It was interesting because I realised if I asked M where wood came from he could tell me using his language but didn’t seem to really get it. When I showed him round branches and how the segments of wood joined, made a round branch, he could see it and touch it and the complete experience was there giving all the pieces of the puzzle for M.

These are genuine experiences that have meaning and purpose and provide a natural way for children to learn foundation principles of science and maths while supporting children in their desire to know and understand the world around them...

Foote, Lyn and Ellis, Fiona (2003). 'Authentic learning in home based settings - is it being undervalued?', Eighth Early Childhood Convention, Palmerston North, September 2003.