While a child's approach to learning is central to every aspect of education, this area of development is not easy to define or measure. Using hands-on activities and small-group discussions, participants in this session will identify and explore six components that make up approaches to learning. What can we do to ensure that the children moving on from our programs have ample supplies of curiosity, initiative, and confidence in their backpacks? To support this essential content area, teachers must consider both common developmental trajectories and individual abilities and temperament. Participants will work in small groups combining their knowledge and professional experience to generate strategies for supporting the different aspects that make up approaches to learning, and share these strategies with the whole group. As critical as it is for securing a positive future education (and life) experience, approaches to learning is not an obvious "subject," like reading, that you can demonstrate to parents. How then do teachers communicate this vital area of a child's development to family, administrators, and others? Short video-clips and small- and large- group discussions will provide a stimulating and supportive environment for the participants to generate their own plans for sharing this important information. They will leave the session confident that the ideas and strategies they generated will not only work with their children, but will get a clear message across to families and other stakeholders.