A Simple Beginning
It began with something simple — as it often does.
I was making a fresh pot of coffee when one child noticed the filters in my hand.
“Can I have one?” they asked, curiosity lighting up their face.
Before I could answer, another child joined in, and soon three children sat together, coffee filters spread across the table.
I suggested they use markers and drops of water — I knew how beautifully the colors would bleed and blend. But they had other ideas. They asked for paint instead, eager to explore in their own way.
So I set my wishes aside, handed them the paint, and stepped back to watch. What I thought would be a short activity turned into a long stretch of deep engagement. They dipped, brushed, layered, and chatted, completely absorbed in their discoveries.
That’s incidental learning: the natural, unplanned discovery that unfolds when curiosity leads the way.
Learning in the Everyday
At Discovery & Adventure Zone, we see these spontaneous experiences as the heart of early learning. They remind us that children are capable, competent learners who don’t need every moment planned for them. Their curiosity does the leading — our role is to stay open enough to follow.
Over the years, I’ve learned to let go of my own agendas. That hasn’t always been easy. For a long time, I believed a good teacher had every detail mapped out — that structure was what made learning happen.
Now I see it differently. Plans give shape and intention, but as I often remind my team, you can’t be married to the plan. The best learning happens when we let go just enough to let children’s ideas take over.
The Role of the Educator
Letting go doesn’t mean stepping back from teaching — it means teaching differently.
I still model learning every day: counting objects, noticing letters and words, and talking through ideas as they arise.
But rather than directing, I invite. I wonder aloud, ask questions, and make observations that spark thought instead of compliance. The Reggio Emilia approach calls this co-learning — educators and children discovering together through curiosity and dialogue.
When we observe and document these spontaneous moments, we make the invisible visible. We see the depth of thought, connection, and capability that children bring to even the simplest play.
A Lesson in Letting Go
Incidental learning is as much a lesson for us as it is for the children. It reminds us to slow down, to trust, and to find beauty in the unexpected.
That morning’s coffee filters could have been just part of my routine. Instead, they became a window into creativity, collaboration, and discovery.
The truth is, meaningful learning doesn’t need to be planned to be powerful. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is make space, step back, and let curiosity lead.
After all, every child holds a natural desire to learn — we just have to be willing to follow where it leads.
Rosetta
