Schemas

Here’s a picture. It’s some of my best work: Paintbrush in hand, I get ready to dab some more colour onto the page. Stop!, you say, Don’t paint any more. It’s perfect! But I ignore you. At first it looks like I’m just going to colour it in… That’s a bit sloppy, you think. But […]

The enclosing schema is a cognitive pattern that is commonly observed in young children’s play. It involves creating an enclosed space or structure using objects or materials, such as building a fort out of pillows and blankets or using blocks to create a castle. This schema reflects the child’s desire to create a sense of

Do you ever wonder what your child’s drawings are about? Do you look at them and think they’re a bit messy? Do you wish she would draw something figurative? Happily, understanding children’s drawings is easy. All you need is a basic grasp of graphic schemas. My youngest is now four. Here is something she produced this week:

For children of a certain age, wooden train sets are mesmerising. The rhythmic sound of the wheels clicking over the joins in the track, the whoosh of acceleration as the train rolls down slopes. Even the smell of the wood is calming. There’s nothing surprising about the train’s route. There can be no sudden detours,