Three on a bike

Three toddlers are playing in the nursery garden on a bicycle made for three. They take turns at pushing and pulling their friends.

Good for looking at

• Co-operating
• Social development
• Physical development
• Outdoors play

 

Notice

• What cues can you see that show what the children are interested in and how are they communicating with each other? (Look out for non-verbal and body language as well as spoken language)
• How are the children learning? Which areas of development, engagement and characteristics of learning can you observe?
• In what ways do the adults support the children’s learning?
• How does the environment support the children’s learning?

Reflect

What are your thoughts about:

• How the children communicated and co-operated with each other?
• These children’s level of social development?
• The role of the adult in this interaction – how did she support the children?
• The value of this type of social and physical play for the children?
• How you make observations where there is no verbal language from the children?

Respond

What would you do to:

• Support such young children to co-operate with each other?
• Encourage children to try out new ways of doing things and persevere with a task?
• Extend the children’s learning – e.g. supporting them to take turns and encouraging their physical play together?
• Model behaviours for young children – e.g. showing how you learn a new skill and share and co-operate with others.

What next:

• Do you need to encourage more of this kind of physical outdoor play and learning for the toddlers in your setting?
• Do you allow enough freedom for the children to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them?