The Dibber Childhood

Play and learning should be closely linked, as children look for meaning in everything they do and express themselves through play. Playful learning should be fun! At Dibber, we create an arena where play and learning are fun. Children are naturally curious and learn by using their entire body and all their senses. Together, we explore and play our way to new knowledge. Children's exploration and wonder lay the foundation for lifelong learning. Children’s natural curiosity turns them into little scientists who might teach us a thing or three. When children wonder and explore, they learn how to learn. Young children are, by nature, wondering individuals. They have an inborn drive to figure out their surroundings. At the same time, they need their carers to share their curiosity, allow time and space to wonder, leading the way to new and exciting knowledge. (Drugli, 2019)

We believe that children need to interact with others to thrive, learn and develop. Through good interactions, we learn together. We need one another to learn. Through interplay, children find solutions together, learn to listen to and understand others, make their opinions heard, and safely express their needs and wishes. Children must be surrounded by adults who affirm them and support the shaping of their identity and positive self-image. They will be cultivating their personal traits in a safe and nurturing environment, aligned with relations that inspire good interaction. Interaction with others is essential for children's well-being, learning and development. In Dibber, the children experience warm and caring adults who create a safe connection, support exploration, and invite a good interaction. Everyone who works at Dibber must know the basic elements of safe attachment from the Circle of Security. The Circle of Security may well be used as a “map” to understand whether the child needs support for attachment or support for exploration. (Powell et al, 2015)

Young children exhibit a strong drive for mastery and independence and need to be shown support and respect. The joy of reaching for goals, succeeding at new things and mastering challenges form a beneficial, foundational structure for life. At Dibber every child will experience the joy of mastery every day! The children practice, try, and master their own pace in interaction with good friends and warm adults. We aim to enable children having good experiences and enjoy feeling capable in every way. They will have opportunities to practice, try and manage at their own pace. The children at Dibber are active participants in their learning processes and the Joy of mastery is a powerful source for learning It is the process that matters, and the process creates resilience and commitment. Self-efficacy, children’s faith in their own ability to master challenges and overcome adversity, is highly important in this process, and their ability to endure difficulty. At Dibber the children will learn how to learn, not only what to learn, which is essential for the children’s future success and growth. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn”. Children learn by being an active participant in their own learning journey, together with others, and this is what Dibber’s pedagogy is all about.