Being Two- What are Schemas?
Welcome to part two of our focus on Being Two. This week we take a look at schemas, what they are, how our toddler room supports them, and ways to support this at home.
Have you made a cup of tea today, switched a light on, picked a pen off the floor and moved it to a flat surface to avoid it rolling off again? Then you have used schemas today without even realising it.
A schema, put simply is like a mental model, a set of instructions we act out in our brain based on what has been successful in the the past. Whilst we come across schemas every time we learn something brand new, as you can imagine this happens the most at 2 and 3 years old.
Our toddler room is a HUB of schemas and is filled with opportunities to create these brain connections.
If I hit this will it break?
Whilst in may appear our little ones are rampaging through rooms causing chaos perhaps it helps to change our perspective and remember they are simply creating cognitive blue prints that set them up for life.
What happens if i drop this? Does this bounce? If I hit this will it break?
The Main Types of Schemas
Below are some examples of Schemas and how they are supported within the provision:
- Transporting – Moving objects or themselves from place to place. Moving things
with their hands. Bags, pots, pans, containers, sad. - Rotation – Turn and rotate objects or themselves. Roll their bodies, playing with toys
that spin, twist, and turn or even ride bikes. They could use Tyres, Wheels, Cable
reels and cars to explore this interest. - Enclosing – Join lines or build structures with objects such as bricks, magnets, or
malleable materials to form enclosures/models. - Connecting – Joining things together, fastening or tying things. Separating or
disconnecting construction etc. - Positioning- Our loose parts ethos lends its self well to this schema, lining things up, ordering different sized objects.
- Enclosing or enveloping- There is always a large cardboard box on the go in our toddler room setting for the children to climb into. But this can also be seen with sand or soil or fabric.
- Transforming- Messy play- gloop, water trays, mark making
I have attached a link that details further Schemas and how you at home can support these at home.
http://www.flyingstart.uk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/Schema.pdf
