Growing Open-Minded Learners in the Early Years

"When we listen to others, we grow our thinking"

 

What Does It Mean to Be Open-Minded?

Being open-minded means appreciating different perspectives, being willing to try new things, and respecting others’ beliefs, cultures, and ideas. In an early years setting, this learner profile attribute helps children develop empathy, curiosity, and an inclusive mindset—values that will serve them throughout their lives.

What Does Open-Mindedness Look Like in the Early Year?

In an early years classroom, open-mindedness shows up in simple yet powerful moments. It’s seen when a child includes a peer who speaks a different language by using gestures or engaging in shared play, or when children eagerly try food from another culture during a celebration. It’s reflected when a group agrees to build a tower using a new idea offered by someone else, or when a child chooses to explore a new material, like clay instead of crayons, just to see what it feels like. These everyday experiences foster flexibility, confidence, and kindness—key traits of open-minded learners.

How Do We Encourage It?

We create a classroom culture that promotes open-mindedness by reading stories from different cultures and discussing the characters’ experiences, inviting families to share their traditions and cultural practices, and celebrating diversity in languages, food, music, and dress. We also model respectful communication and encourage curiosity about others. Children are supported to listen to different ideas, ask thoughtful questions, and reflect on what they’ve learned, helping them build a strong foundation for understanding and appreciating perspectives different from their own.

Why It Matters

Helping children develop open-mindedness is more than just a classroom goal—it’s a lifelong value. In a world that’s increasingly connected, we need compassionate, thoughtful individuals who are willing to listen, learn, and grow with others. By fostering open-mindedness in the early years, we’re planting the seeds of global citizenship, empathy, and understanding. It starts small—with a shared toy, a new idea, a brave “yes”—but it grows into something truly powerful.

"Different is not wrong — it’s just another way to be right."