The four frames may be described as follows:
Belonging and contributing
This frame encompasses children's learning and development with respect to:
their sense of connectedness to others;
their relationships with others, and their contributions as part of a group, a community, and the natural world;
their understanding of relationships and community, and of the ways in which people contribute to the world around them.
The learning encompassed by this frame also relates to children's early development of the attributes and attitudes that inform citizenship, through their sense of personal connectedness to various communities.
Self-regulation and well-being
This frame encompasses children's learning and development with respect to:
their own thinking and feelings, and their recognition of and respect for differences in the thinking and feelings of others;
regulating their emotions, adapting to distractions, and assessing consequences of actions in a way that enables them to engage in learning;
their physical and mental health and wellness.
In connection with this frame, it is important for educators to consider:
the interrelatedness of children's self-awareness, sense of self, and ability to self-regulate;
the role of the learning environment in helping children to be calm, focused, and alert so they are better able to learn.
What children learn in connection with this frame allows them to focus, to learn, to respect themselves and others, and to promote well-being in themselves and others.
Demonstrating literacy and mathematics behaviours
This frame encompasses children's learning and development with respect to:
communicating thoughts and feelings – through gestures, physical movements, words, symbols, and representations, as well as through the use of a variety of materials;
literacy behaviours, evident in the various ways they use language, images, and materials to express and think critically about ideas and emotions, as they listen and speak, view and represent, and begin to read and write;
mathematics behaviours, evident in the various ways they use concepts of number and pattern during play and inquiry; access, manage, create, and evaluate information; and experience an emergent understanding of mathematical relationships, concepts, skills, and processes;
an active engagement in learning and a developing love of learning, which can instil the habit of learning for life.
What children learn in connection with this frame develops their capacity to think critically, to understand and respect many different perspectives, and to process various kinds of information.
Problem solving and innovating
This frame encompasses children's learning and development with respect to:
exploring the world through natural curiosity, in ways that engage the mind, the senses, and the body;
making meaning of their world by asking questions, testing theories, solving problems, and engaging in creative and analytical thinking;
the innovative ways of thinking about and doing things that arise naturally with an active curiosity, and applying those ideas in relationships with others, with materials, and with the environment.
The learning encompassed by this frame supports collaborative problem solving and bringing innovative ideas to relationships with others.
In connection with this frame, it is important for educators to consider the importance of problem solving in all contexts – not only in the context of mathematics – so that children will develop the habit of applying creative, analytical, and critical thinking skills in all aspects of their lives.
What children learn in connection with all four frames lays the foundation for developing traits and attitudes they will need to become active, contributing, responsible citizens and healthy, engaged individuals who take responsibility for their own and others' well-being.
(The Kindergarten Program, pg 13-15, 2016)