Early Years Impact Metacognition Magnified: Messy Before Perfect
7 snips
Jun 1, 2025 
Nathan Burns, known as 'Mr Metacognition', is a specialist and author focused on enhancing children's cognitive skills. In this conversation, he defines metacognition and its crucial role in early learning. Nathan emphasizes the power of play in developing reflective thinking and shares practical strategies for parents to engage children in metacognitive practices. He advocates for open-ended tasks that encourage creativity and teamwork, while also stressing the importance of vocabulary and thoughtful questions to deepen understanding. Messy attempts are celebrated as essential stages in the learning process.
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Metacognition Is A Three-Step Process
- Metacognition is the ongoing process of planning, monitoring and evaluating actions.
- Nathan Burns says reflection must feed forward into future behaviour to improve outcomes.
Use Simple Planning Prompts
- Break planning into simple questions: What is the goal, what do I need, which strategy will I use?
- Ask children short comparative prompts like "Is it easier on the carpet or wooden floor?" to develop monitoring.
Children Teach Adults During Play
- Nathan Burns shares how his own children corrected and taught him during play.
- He used those interactions to model asking for feedback and learning from children.
