Principle 4

Allow and support exploration

“Let me grow at my own pace and I will ask for support when I need it.”
(Preisha, 12 years old, Finland)

  • Children need to have freedom to experiment, take risks and learn from mistakes.
  • If mistakes occur, support the child to fix them, either by themselves or with an adult.
  • Encourage curiosity, and consider children’s evolving capabilities based on age and development, personalities, skills and interests.
  • Offer children opportunities to acquire new skills and encourage them to take on self-driven challenges.
  • Design for children to be creators and contributors, not just consumers.

Links to the UN Rights of the Child:
The Right to Development & The Right to Learn