Supporting Infants' and Toddlers' Explorations

04/11/2023

Supporting Infants' and Toddlers' Explorations

It’s not that children are little scientists but that scientists are big children.
Alison Gopnik, The Scientist In The Crib: Minds, Brains, And How Children Learn

In the Honeycomb Hypothesis: How Infants, Toddlers and Twos Learn Through Nature Play, Duncan, Penix & Haughey encourage support for children’s naturally occurring play urges, or Patterns of Play: “Successful teachers understand that children’s interests motivate learning, so they pay attention to the ideas children express in their play and adjust their pedagogical practices accordingly.” They highlight three methods you can use:

(1) Pure Exploration — simply promote the joy of children’s pure exploration: keep it child-led, allowing ample time, space and captivating materials

(2) Narrated Exploration — use “intentional language that helps young children connect ideas, themes, and sensory experiences.” Narrate, but do not interrupt, children’s play, describing (‘what sticky mud!’ or ‘you made a tall tower!’ rather than judging (‘good job!’ or ‘I like your painting!’)

(3) Transformational Exploration — support children’s ‘ah-ha’ moments and expand their knowledge (or schemas) about an interest or material by encouraging its manipulation in a variety of ways. Offer with materials and opportunities for crushing, pounding, molding, sticking, attaching, poking, mixing, combining, and transporting.

For more information about Exchange's magazine, books, and other products pertaining to ECE, go to www.ccie.com.