Home > Reflective Teaching in Early Education, 2nd Ed > 1. Becoming a reflective professional > 4. Principles > Schemas and planning

Schemas and planning

When we observe repeated patterns of behaviour in young children's play and exploration, we can use this information to identify the schemas children are exploring. Although children often show particular schemas not all children will and of course this will change over time; with children sometimes showing one schema often or several different schemas across the day/week/month. Identifying schemas can be useful as they offer a way of understanding children’s behaviours in addition to helping us to identify their interests. In turn this can support the planning process. In chapter 10 of Reflective Teaching in Early Education and in the chapter 10 links on this site we provide information on, and templates for, planning. Below we offer some ideas for planning for children based upon identified schemas.

Schema – Connection

Children join or connect items, for example, train tracks and carriages or beads on a string.

Possible activities to plan for include:

Sewing, tapestry
Dominos and jigsaws
Painting or using computer programs to develop patterns

Schema – Rotation

Child may enjoy items which roll and/or spin, for example wheels on cars or washing machines, or spinning around themselves. Possible activities to plan for include:

Cooking – stirring and whisking
Painting with rollers
Building and connecting with coggs

Schema – Envelope

When displaying this schema children may like to be covered up or cover things up, for example dolls. Possible activities to plan for include:

Writing letters and posting them
Planting seeds or bulbs in pots or the garden
Tidying things away

Schema – Trajectory

Children displaying this schema may be interested in all trajectories or specific diagonal, vertical or horizontal trajectories. Behaviours include dropping, building and knocking down towers, jumping and playing ball. Possible activities to plan for include:

Games with dice
Rolling items inside pipes- consider noise and speed
Planned play which allows for jumping, climbing and ball play with consideration given to appropriate and safe behaviours.
Providing opportunities for children to pour their drinks

Schema - Transporting

This involves the movement objects from one place to another. Possible activities to plan for include:

Packing suitcases for self or dolls
Involving children in the delivery of snacks and drinks
Sand or water play with weights and containers