It’s time to dive again into the enchanting world of child development and explore another play schema - the Positioning Schema!
[SCHEMA RECAP: If you're just jumping into this blog post series and wondering what the heck a schema is: Schema’s of Play are instinctive, repetitive ways babies between the ages of 1-3 interact that helps them explore and understand the world around them.]
So, let's jump into understanding how this fun schema helps your kids develop in its own unique way…
What is the Orientation Schema?
The Positioning Schema is like a magical blueprint that kids create while they're immersed in the wonders of playtime. It's their secret language to understand where things belong and how they fit together. Imagine it like their own treasure map to navigate through the realms of imagination!
In positioning schema children become tiny architects, rearranging toys, objects, and everything they can find in different ways to create their dream worlds. This might sound similar to orientation schema but the main difference here is that positioning schema is about how objects look in relation to each other rather than individually.
This might include rotating, flipping or rearranging their toys into lines, towers, rows or patterns. They might often enjoy rearranging the bookshelf or shoe rack. Children’s boundless creativity fuels the Positioning Schema and helps them observe from different perspectives.
How it helps Development
Now, you might be wondering, "What's the big deal?" Well, hold your unicorns, because it's a total game-changer for your kid's development! Here’s how
The Positioning Schema helps lay the groundwork for some super important skills - we're talking spatial awareness, problem-solving, and even organizational talents! While your little wonders are moving objects into different angles and unique ways, they're also strengthening their fine motor skills and understanding complex concepts like visual categorization and alignment. Future architects and interior designers, perhaps?
As well as spatial smarts, the positioning schema boosts creativity, imagination and cognitive abilities. By experimenting with different patterns and colors, they're flexing those creative muscles and learning something new every time (no wonder they need so many naps!)
How to Encourage Positioning Schema
Here are some simple ways to help your kiddos embrace the Positioning Schema like the true wizards they are!
Playtime Wonderland: out the most enchanting toys and let your little architects weave their spells! From building blocks to puzzles, let them explore and position stuff in their own whimsical way. It's all about fostering creativity and unleashing their inner sorcery!
Nature play: get outside and find small stones. With their variations in colour they are perfect for developing fine motor skills as your little ones rearrange or group them into colors, shapes, smoothness and sizes. This could also be done with leaves, twigs or pinecones.
Foodie Fiesta: Snack time transforms into a positioning goldmine! Cut different fruit colors into squares and group them on their plate to get them thinking. Other foods to experiment with are sultanas, carrot sticks and cereals. HOT TIP: Encourage them to play with foods they don’t yet want to eat – it’s a good way to have a positive interaction with that food and develops their interest in taking a bite later on.
Conclusion
The Positioning Schema of play supports spatial awareness, pattern identification, and creativity.
Remember!! Children are all different and learn differently from each other. It’s totally normal if they:
- Practice more than one schema at a time
- Favour one schema
- Not engage with a schema at all during play (all play is learning!)
By supporting your little ones' play by creating opportunities for exposure to different objects, spaces, and obstacles, you're setting them on a path of growth and magic. So, let them position their way to greatness and remember: it’s OK to keep out of their flow sometimes and to play with them other times!