INSPIRATION CORNER
Mapping discovery through play
The Alliance's Joe Robinson explores how simple, open-ended items can unlock huge learning potential in the early years through heuristic play
The Alliance's Joe Robinson explores how simple, open-ended items can unlock huge learning potential in the early years through heuristic play
Imagine, through the eyes of a child, being given a seemingly endless container of bits and bobs all to yourself. Where would you start? You might explore each item in turn, looking closely at its features, feeling its surface. You might squeeze it or bash it on the floor or even give it a sniff or a lick. You might pick up one or two parts at a time and push them together and find out if they interact or fit. You might just pick out the biggest or smallest thing and keep hold of it, or you might tip it all out onto the floor so you can see everything.
Heuristic play is a phrase promoted within the early years sector by Elinor Goldschmied in the 1980s, with the term 'heuristic' referring to the method of discovery or problem-solving. Coinciding with play, natural and everyday
resources, this element of early years practice is a significant approach to supporting children’s learning and development.
In this type of play, the choices and ideas are endless. Children naturally explore these objects to discover their unique features and how they interact. By problem solving and manipulating the objects, children mould the play as they go.
Vessels of discovery
A popular and extremely versatile resource within heuristic play practice are treasure baskets. Providing scope for a variety of themes, materials and contents, treasure baskets are formed of a natural container such as a wicker basket or wooden bowl, filled with a selection of everyday and natural objects, such as wooden utensils and sea sponges.
Although typically aimed at babies, treasure baskets can be tailored to a range of age groups and abilities, so when putting one together it’s important to consider the children you are going to be presenting it to.
Here are some examples:
Scenario one
The context: It’s summertime and you have a running theme around holidays. In your room there are a number of non-mobile babies who can sit independently - the perfect audience for a treasure basket.
The activity: Fill three shallow wicker baskets with a selection of large shells, natural sponges, a small bucket and spade in each, and some chunky pieces of driftwood. You place each treasure basket in front of two children and supervise them as they explore.
Scenario two
The context: One of your children is a pre-schooler with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). One of their biggest challenges is the ability to sit for prolonged periods of time. As part of a range of activities and interventions already in place, you decide to put together a treasure basket.
The activity: Fill a wicker picnic basket with a range of objects that can help with dexterity, as well as objects that move, including chunky natural sponges, wooden rollers, wooden bobbins and string, spinning tops and light-up hedgehog balls. As part of one-to-one time with the child, support them in opening the lid and exploring the basket, mimicking their sounds, showing enthusiasm and supporting them to explore each object at length.
As part of this practice, our job as educators is to facilitate and supervise. Allowing the child to explore, making their own way through the objects uninterrupted is paramount. Educators should sit with children, supporting them enthusiastically, saying the names of objects as they show us, mimic noises or babble, becoming an extension of the activity rather than the driving force.
Everyday adventures at home
Parents and carers are likely to be facilitating heuristic play without even realising it. We all remember setting up a drum kit made up of pots, pans and wooden spoons as a child. The home is full of everyday objects to explore, but how can we inspire parents and carers to use these objects with purpose? Here are a few ideas to help:
- Run a treasure basket session for parents and carers at your setting. Show them the resources you use and ideas around how to set up treasure baskets.
- Have a treasure basket competition. Ask parents and carers to review your setting online and pick a name out of a hat to win a fully loaded treasure basket.
- Find your local scrap store and share their information with parents and carers.
- Find some short snappy videos about heuristic play and treasure baskets and share the links.
- Talk to parents and carers about heuristic play and treasure baskets at parents’ evening, briefings and two-year checks.
Smooth sailing
With all resources and equipment used with children in settings and at home, it is incredibly important that we ensure manufacturer age recommendations are followed, and that UK/GB product safety requirements and standards marks are recognised. Natural resources and items not defined as toys such as driftwood or natural sponges and wooden utensils won’t have these marks, so it is essential that we risk assess and provide appropriate resources to the children, avoiding small parts and sharp edges.
Heuristic play encourages children to independently explore natural objects, supporting curiosity, creativity and problem-solving skills. Simple resources, such as treasure baskets filled with varied objects, can be easily adapted to different ages and abilities, offering significant developmental benefits for all babies and children, including those with SEND.
As facilitators of this play, educators are there to gently encourage and support exploration without leading or directing it. This open-ended and child-led approach easily extends to the home where parents and carers can introduce heuristic play using everyday household items, supported by the tips and learning opportunities that educators provide.
By giving children the freedom to look closely at ordinary objects, we help them build confidence and independent thinking skills that will last a lifetime.
Under 5 magazine
The magazine of the Early Years Alliance