What Is Inquiry-Based Learning and Why Does It Work?

Supporting curiosity, confidence, and real-world thinking from the very start

At Akasha’s Littlest Explorers Daycare, we believe children are born curious. They ask questions, make discoveries, and explore the world around them with natural wonder. Instead of teaching facts from the front of the room, we follow a different approach — one that centres the child as the driver of their own learning.

This is called inquiry-based learning, and it’s at the heart of everything we do.

What Is Inquiry-Based Learning?

Inquiry-based learning is a child-led approach that encourages exploration, experimentation, and questioning. Rather than being told what to learn, children are invited to wonder, observe, and investigate ideas that are meaningful to them.

In practice, this might look like:

• Asking, “Why do worms like the rain?” during a forest walk

• Building a bird nest out of sticks and moss after spotting one in a tree

• Sorting rocks by colour, size, or texture

• Mixing paints to explore how new colours are made

These moments are not part of a rigid lesson plan. They come from the child’s natural interests and are supported by an educator who listens, observes, and offers gentle guidance.

Why It Works in Early Childhood

Inquiry-based learning supports every area of development — cognitive, social, emotional, and physical. Here’s how:

• It builds critical thinking. Children learn to ask questions, test ideas, and draw conclusions.

• It supports emotional growth. Being seen and heard builds confidence, independence, and self-worth.

• It respects each child’s pace. There is no pressure to “keep up.” Children learn when they are ready.

• It invites real-world learning. Children connect their experiences to the world around them in a way that feels relevant and exciting.

For young children, learning is not about worksheets or memorization. It’s about engaging their senses, following their curiosity, and making discoveries through play.

How It Looks at Our Daycare

At Akasha’s, inquiry-based learning happens all day long — indoors and out. Our days are full of open-ended materials, unstructured play, nature walks, and time to ask questions or simply observe. We don’t rush children from one activity to the next. Instead, we create space for deep engagement.

This might mean spending half the morning watching a line of ants, building fairy houses from bark and ferns, or listening to birds and trying to identify their songs.

It’s in these small, wonder-filled moments that true learning takes root.

The Role of the Educator

In an inquiry-based environment, the educator is a co-explorer. We ask questions like, “What do you notice?” or “What do you think will happen if…” instead of giving answers right away. We provide tools and time, not rigid outcomes.

This kind of teaching requires presence, patience, and trust; trust in the child’s capacity to lead, and trust in the process of discovery itself.

Final Thoughts

Inquiry-based learning honours the way children are naturally wired to learn. It values the journey over the outcome and the process over the product. Most importantly, it invites children to be curious, capable, and confident in who they are.

If you’re looking for a daycare that follows your child’s lead, encourages meaningful exploration, and celebrates the magic of everyday discoveries, we’d love to connect with you.