"Play is the work of childhood."
– Jean Piaget
Ever noticed how your toddlers do the most bizarre looking things in the name of play?
Well, turns out it's not just random chaos; there's a method to their adorable madness. It’s called schemas, also known as schematic play, in which children use their bodies to learn and understand a schema’s physical manifestation. These little quirks are their way of exploring and figuring out the world. After they’ve grasped that, it helps them to grasp abstract applications.
Most toddlers will explore various action schemas across their development. Their interest (or rather, obsession) in a specific schema will come on its own, and decline when they have mastered the concept.
Let's learn more about common toddler action schemas!
1. Transporting Schema:
Think toy migration. Toddlers are like mini movers, always carting things around. Blocks, stuffed animals, you name it—everything's on the move! We love letting our little ones push the full laundry basket around as it also counts as heavy work, which helps with self-regulation and attention. Another favourite of ours is to let the kids unpack, sort, and stow groceries away in the pantry.
2. Trajectory Schema:
Have you seen your toddler repeatedly throwing things out of their buggy and watching it fall? Or observe something swing back and forth? Yes it’s extremely annoying when they keep dropping bits of food at meal times to watch it splat, smash or bounce off a surface. To follow their interest in the trajectory schema, we suggest:
- Rolling games such as makeshift bowling
- Target throwing using balls or bean bags
3. Enveloping Schema:
Blanket forts, anyone? Toddlers love wrapping things (or themselves) up, creating a snug little world of their own with whatever they can find. Offer bandages for doctor-patient games, nesting toys, or lots of wrapping material and items to be wrapped. Envelopers focus on making items or things disappear. You might have witnessed your child drawing a beautiful picture, then painting or colouring over it till it cannot be seen entirely. As with other schemas, allow it to happen without judgement and discover their ever-changing world.
4. Connecting Schema:
It's the toddler version of social networking. Linking blocks, holding hands—toddlers are all about making connections, literally. Depending on the age of the child, you can explore:
- Making paper chains
- Games where they get to hold hands
- Threading
- Lego / Duplo
- Magnetic tiles
- Various type of tape, glue, blu-tack, or stapler (with adult supervision)
5. Positioning Schema:
Meet the mini organisers. Toddlers arrange things with precision—size, order, you name it. It's their way of making sense of the world. Today it may be every pen in your drawer, and tomorrow it may be every single piece of carrot in their lunch. Take a deep breath and support them with fun items they can position – it will someday lead to skills such as drawing patterns in mathematics and hopefully, neatness and tidiness.
6. Transforming Schema:
Toddler magicians at play! Everything's a canvas for transformation—playdough, boxes, you name it. Abracadabra, and it's something new! This is when they enjoy the packaging of their latest gifted toy more than the toy itself. Amass a collection of empty packaging boxes and materials and let them enjoy making some magic!
7. Rotational Schema:
Spin me right 'round! Toddlers are fascinated by anything that twirls or spins. It's like having their own mini amusement park in play. Construction toy sets with screws, nuts and bolts are usually welcome. They may also enjoy pinwheels and mixing food in large bowls as part of meal prep.
8. Enclosing Schema:
This schema follows their exploration of boundaries and containment. Toddlers build forts, stack blocks like little walls, creating their safe havens. In this schema, enclosers learn about containing things or ideas within a specific space.
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Understanding toddler schemas isn't just about play—it's a peek into their growing minds. So, next time your kids empty their entire shelf of books and toys and cart them all around the house, know that they’re not seeking to destroy your sanity, but it’s a normal phase of their development. It’s messy and overwhelming at times, we understand. Still, we say.. Let them play! Learning to pack up after playing though, is something you can work on together.
