NCF-Foundational Stage-2022

How Children Learn at the Foundational Stage

National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage-2022 states that-

Children are natural learners. They are active, eager to learn, and respond with interest in new things. They have an innate sense of curiosity – they wonder, question, explore, try out, and discover to make sense of the world. By acting on their curiosity, they continue to discover and learn more.

Children learn best through play

Children learn best through play – through activity and doing. They like to run, jump, crawl, and balance, they enjoy repetition, they respond spontaneously to rhythm, they talk, they ask, and they reason, and answer questions posed to them. They learn by first-hand experiences involving manipulation, exploration, and experimentation.

Hands on Experience

This playfulness with materials, ideas, thoughts, and feelings helps in developing children’s creativity, flexible thinking, and problem-solving abilities, and enhances their concentration, attention, and perseverance. Children improve their thinking, vocabulary, imagination, speaking, and listening skills through play, whether they are reconstructing real situations or creating imaginary worlds

Learning is an active and interactive process

Learning at this Stage is, therefore, an active and interactive process in which children learn through play and through interaction with other children and more experienced others. Children are actively engaged in their social and cultural experiences, and they constantly adjust and use new information to make sense of their perceptions and their experiences.

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Real world learning experience

Children’s playing and playfulness can be nurtured and strengthened through experiences of active participation with others, and with natural, real-world materials that provoke and enhance learning, imagination, creativity, innovation, and problem solving in diverse and unique ways.


It is vital that learning of children at this Stage is anchored by nurturing relationships with those around them. These relationships help children feel safe, become more optimistic, curious, and communicative.

Resources:- National Curriculum Framework for Foundational Stage-2022

https://ncert.nic.in/pdf/NCF_for_Foundational_Stage_20_October_2022.pdf