Razvijanje zgodnje igre
Košara zakladov ponuja dojenčkom, ki že zmorejo sedeti in samostojno raziskovati, naravne predmete ter vsakdanje gospodinjske stvari. Je kot “koncentrirana” igralna košara. To je čudovita priložnost, da vsi otroci razvijajo in širijo svoje zgodnje učenje. Odraslim pri takšni (nesocialni) raziskovalni igri ni treba aktivno sodelovati, temveč zgolj zagotoviti varno okolje, v katerem se lahko razvija otrokova samostojna igra. Pohvala ni potrebna, saj mu notranje zadovoljstvo ob lastnih gibih predstavlja motivacijo za nadaljnje gibanje in raziskovanje.
Dojenček bo pri približno 6. mesecih, podprt z blazino ali z odraslim za hrbtom, poskušal predmete prijemati, jih dajati v usta ali jih premikati. Plastične predmete je dobro omejiti, saj so navadno lažji in imajo enoličen občutek, vonj in okus. Težka kovinska veriga, lahek in zaobljen borov storž, lesena kuhalnica z dolgim ročajem ali pločevinasta skodelica ter lesena krtača otroku ponudijo veliko priložnosti za “delo proti gravitaciji”, ko predmete dviguje. Tako naravno krepi mišice trupa ter roke in ramena. Tresenje, udarjanje, drgnjenje predmetov po tleh ali njihovo spuščanje, usmerjajo otrokovo pozornost iz enega na drugi predmet v bližini. Vse to podpira in krepi različne prijeme, tako občasne kot tudi bolj vztrajne.
Iz tedna v teden isti dojenček raste in izteguje roke vse bolj stran od sebe ter preusmerja pozornost z ene strani na drugo na bolj usklajen način. Kasneje, proti koncu prvega leta, lahko otrok raziskuje širši prostor okoli sebe, pri čemer roki sodelujeta skupaj ali izmenično. Opazujemo lahko, kaj izbere iz Košare zakladov, kako predmet pobere ter kako in kam ga odloži. Zbranost in osredotočenost sta izjemni. Otroci lahko sedijo ob svojih košarah in se igrajo zelo dolgo.
Košara zakladov je odlična za domačo rabo. Otroku jo lahko ponudite tako, da medtem v bližini opravite svoje delo in hkrati pazite na varnost, obenem pa je to čudovita priložnost, da opazujete njegovo samostojno igro. V vrtcih takšne košare prav tako uporabljajo. Pogosto so večje, da se lahko 2 ali 3 otroci igrajo drug ob drugem.
Nekateri med vami morda poznate Košaro zakladov iz odlične knjige Developing Play for the Under 3s (založba David Fulton, izšla pri Routledge, 2010).
Morda te ideje poznate tudi iz knjige Every Child Can Learn (2. izdaja, 2021), kjer je Košara zakladov predstavljena kot odlično orodje za razumevanje, kako se otroci učijo na podlagi pristopov Waldon in Functional Learning. Dostopna je tukaj.
Za zabavnoucenje.si pripravila Jane Blatt.
The Treasure Basket
Developing Early Play
The Treasure Basket offers natural and everyday household objects to babies who are able to sit up and can explore for themselves. It’s like a concentrated play basket. This is a wonderful opportunity for all children to develop and extend their early learning. Adults do not need to take an active part in this kind of (non social) exploration but provide a safe environment so that their child’s independent play can develop. Praise is unnecessary, as the child’s intrinsic pleasure in their own movements provides the motivation for more movement and exploration.
A 6 month baby, possibly propped up with a cushion or by an adult behind her, will attempt to pick up and mouth or move objects around. Plastic objects should be limited as they tend to weigh less and feel, smell and taste similar. A heavy metal chain, a light and rounded pine cone, a long handled wooden spoon or a tin cup and a wooden brush will provide the child with lots of opportunity to work against gravity as they pick the objects up, naturally strengthening their core muscles and arms and shoulders. Shaking, banging or scraping objects along the floor or dropping them as the child’s attention switches to other objects nearby, all support and strengthen different grasps, both intermittent and more sustained.
Every week the same baby will grow and be able to extend their arms further away from their near body space and switch their attention from side to side in a more integrated way. Later, towards the end of the first year, the child can explore the wider space around them with hands working together or alternatively and we can observe the child choose what to pick up from the Treasure Basket and how and where to dispose of it. The concentration and focus is enormous. Children can sit behind their baskets and play for long periods of time.
The Treasure Basket is perfect to give your child at home so that you can keep an eye on their safety while you do your own jobs close by but also it is a wonderful opportunity to observe them playing independently. Nursery schools use these baskets, often big ones, so that 2 or 3 children can play alongside each other.
Some of you will know about the Treasure Basket through Anita Hughes’ excellent book “Developing Play for the Under 3s” (A David Fulton Book published by Routledge 2010).
You may also know about these ideas through “Every Child Can Learn” (2 nd Edition by Jane Blatt, 2021 Amazon) where the Treasure Basket is used as a fantastic tool for understanding how children learn based on the Waldon and Functional Learning Approaches.
Prepared for zabavnoucenje.si by Jane Blatt.