Exploring Learning: Young Children and Blockplay

1I feel this book would be valuable to all childcarers. It is well worth the time you can spare for a first read, and would make a good "dip-in" reference book for the future. The study described is set in a school, but consideration of pre-school groups is also made. Childminders could easily adopt the ideas presented for play within their own homes and encourage them within those of the children also. The value of parental involvement is strongly emphasised - Who Minds 'The book is highly recommended particularly for early years teachers and teachers in training where the findings and general comments will give a good underpinning to classroom practice - Early Years In this book, the authors present an interpretative account of a piece of collaborative action-research into childrens blockplay during a three-year project. Children from three to seven years, early years teachers, nursery nurses, and two members of staff from the Froebel Institute College, Roehampton Institute, all acting as participant observers, shared in the discovery of the blockplay.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 185396171X
• ISBN13: 9781853961717
• Release Date: April 1992
• Publisher: Sage Publications
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.86 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding resource

This is such a wonderful treatment of early childhood preperation for mathematics and science studies that it is a major shame that it is not more widely available. It should be read by everyone working with children in preschool or primary education. The treatment of block play as nonverbal communciation is outstanding, as are the chapters on mathematics and science aspects. This would be a valuable tool for anyone attempting to balance the recent trend towards kindergarten worksheets and reading lessons with a more realistic approach to developing young children's learning abilities. The only caveat is that the team felt obliged to invent their own names for the standard Unit Blocks used, and in some cases have given names identical to standard names to the wrong blocks. But anyone familiar enough with the standard names to be confused will so thoroughly enjoy the material in this book, that they will surely endulge that eccentricity. Required reading. A must have for any early education library.

Come let us play with our children

Friedrich Froebel was a strong advocate of the idea that children learn by playing with blocks. Blockplay was an important activity in his first Kindergarten. Open ended blockplay offers endless possibilities for creativity and discovery.This books helps parents and teachers to maximise this experience for children. By understanding the natural inclination of children to perceive, investigate, and assemble blocks you can go beyond free play to forge a learning partnership.