As adults, we can get a bit dazed by the repetitive behaviour in children’s play like climbing, throwing things or hiding in small places over and over again. However, if we pay attention to this repetitive behaviour, they are an act of learning through play and are called Schemas.
Schemas can be described as urges or repetitive actions of children that allow them to explore and engage with their environment. They are characterised by intense concentration, complete absorption, deep enjoyment and persistence during the activity They show us that this kind of repetitive play is meaningful. They also provide us with a framework for engaging with children to help them maximize their learning.
Below are some common schemas:
- Transporting – urge to carry things
- Enclosure – urge to put things into containers, hiding in boxes
- Enveloping – urge to wrap themselves or things in fabric, paper, sticky tape
- Rotational – urge to spin or go in a circular motion
- Orientation – urge to hang upside down, get on top or under of things
- Positioning – urge to put things in alignment, tidying up
- Connection – urge to connect, join (includes disconnecting too!)
- Trajectory – urge to climbing up and jumping off, throwing and dropping
- Transformation – urge mix water with sand, juice with food
Next time if your child is painting check if they are swirling around in circles (rotational), or enclosing the picture with a box around it (enclosure) or painting over the whole picture (enveloping).
These natural, uncontainable and totally essential urges that all children have are an important part of a child’s development and all parents should know and familiarise themselves with it.