Schemas

What are Play Schemas and why do they matter?

Have you ever wondered why children purposely knock over block castles and towers, hide in small boxes, throw their food, line objects up or collect rocks? These actions are natural developmental urges called schemas that suggest a healthy child.

As educators, we may find ourselves, our peers or our children’s families label a child as ‘difficult’ or ‘naughty’, but the reality is that these play schemas are natural, uncontrollable, and totally necessary urges that ALL children have at some point or another.  The repetitive action of a schema allows a child to practise and construct meaning until they have mastered the understanding of the schema.

{Browse our Play Schema blog here}