Schemas
Children sometimes show patterns of learning in their play. These are known as schemas. Does your child ….
Line their toys up
Throw things
Jump, swing or climb up and down?
If so, they may have a trajectory schema.
Turn things (taps, knobs)
Spin round in circles
Have a fascination with wheels
Draw lots of circles?
If so, they may have a rotation schema
Make fences, walls round toys
Hide in dens, inside tunnels
Draw boxes round pictures?
If so, they may have an enclosing schema
Put things in bags, boxes
Like wrapping things up layer on layer
Like covering themselves up in fabric, scarves?
If so, they may have an enveloping schema
Carry things from place to place in a bag, wheelbarrow
Move objects from one room to another
Play mainly with transport items?
If so, they may have a transporter schema
Join things together, and take them apart
Love sellotape, glue, junk modelling
Play with train sets, tie string to climbing frame?
If so, they may have a connecting/disconnecting schema
Carefully place objects in rows and patterns
Position their toys, books around the edge of the bed
Line cars etc up in size order
Draw in ordered lines, patterns
Want to see things from different viewpoints eg on worktop?
If so, they may have a positioning schema
Hang upside down from climbing frame
Turn everything upside down as they look at it
Run up the slide?
If so, they may have an orientation schema
Tip everything out, then move on and tip that out
Pull the tissues out the box, and throw them about
Pull the toilet roll off and throw it
Tear paper into lots of different bits and drop on the floor?
If so, they may have a scattering schema
You see they’re not trying to drive you mad really!!
