Atherton, F. and Nutbrown, C. (2013). Understanding schemas and young children : from birth to three. London: Sage. Morning everyone! Today I have a Galt toys guest review from my sister Annabel. Please do read it and say nice things!

A guide to schema play in toddlers - One Hundred Toys

Read more about the rotation schema and learn about the four levels of schema understanding. Orientation schema This could also be the worst thing about it though, it is straws…just straws… and for modern children, initial interest might not be held for long enough, less fun than other construction toys, it is harder to achieve a good looking structure with them. I, though, was sold, and with three ‘windmills’ filling my dining table I was very proud of my Connecta Straw windfarm. Again, like the boat, this will grow with the children and enable them to develop their imagination and design as well as fine motor skills and does have something for everyone. You will receive exclusive offers, news and advice direct to your inbox now that you have signed up. I had heard years ago about using straws and connectors, and I think that someone had mentioned using regular straws and the connectors for drip tubing from home depot. Well I tried the drip tubing connectors, and they don’t work with regular straws. They are too small for regular straws, and they are very hard to get into the drip tubing. I saw a play set of straws and connectors at a teacher store, but it was expensive and I wasn’t going to spend that kind of money. Then, a couple of months ago, I was wandering through Marshalls, and found these Connecta Straws for less than 8 dollars. That was a price I was willing to pay (eager even).Katey Mairs, Arnold, C. and Al, E. (2013). Young children learning through schemas : deepening the dialogue about learning in the home and in the nursery. London: Routledge.

Review: GALT toys; not just crayons. - Slummy single mummy Review: GALT toys; not just crayons. - Slummy single mummy

These are some of my four year old son’s favourite words. He is starting to treat them with caution though, having overplayed the ‘surprise’ approach many a time –“I’ve got a surprise if you brush your teeth/eat dinner/stop sitting on my head at 6am.” The excitement is swiftly followed by crushing disappointment when the surprise is revealed to be a kiss from me/an apple/an invisible pet. Wrap up parcels (Christmas is great for envelopers!) and use paper, newspaper, string, sellotape, ribbons But there is a second type ofschema – schemas of form. We use these to help usrecall shapes and arrangements. As our understanding becomes more sophisticated, we use them to draw and eventually to write. A child investigating the idea of enveloping may repeatedly drop your keys behind the radiator or open the bin and look inside.Here are some of the most commonly recognised schemas in toddlers. They’re mostly based around movement, though in principle a schema can be about anything. Trajectory schema In this schema your child is trying to work out what happens if they wrap or hide an object. Can I still see it? Can I feel it? What if I wrap it in translucent fabric? Or paper? Or put it in a cupboard? Is it still there when I open or unwrap? There are designs included to copy, or you can make a design for the student to copy. We made some letters and worked on a helicopter. It can be difficult, but is rewarding because the shapes look very cool when done. To support orientation schema play, try walking along walls, rolling down hills, climbing up steps and any kind of movement that requires them to find different heights or positions. Gymnastics, games like Twister, soft play, or a simple trip to the park, are also great for exploring different points of views. And of course, there is always climbing trees.