This is not the stuff builders use to hold up buildings but it has a similar effect! Learn about what scaffolding is in early childhood education.
What is Scaffolding?
Scaffolding is a popular teaching and learning tool in early childhood settings.
Vygotsky (one of the superstars of early childhood education) thought that thinking and learning emerged from social interactions. He believed learning occurs within the “zone of proximal development” (ZPD) that is, where tasks are too difficult for a child to perform independently but are possible with the assistance of others who have more knowledge.
Scaffolding is a term which refers to when the expert in a certain area provides support, that allows children to try out new ideas and cross the ZPD.
Scaffolding can be as subtle as giving a verbal cue or setting up an environment a certain way. Scaffolding can be given by adults but also other children.
TASK
Watch the children playing at HEY very carefully - can you give two examples of where a child has scaffolded another child's learning? For example: maybe you saw a child teach another child how to climb up the climbing frame or how to use a tool?
Scaffolding in Dance Experiences
Dance experiences can be very successful where the educator gives the children some simple steps to perform, but then gives verbal cues to the children that they could perform those steps however they please.
Giving the children this freedom, but still with some guidance, leads to them exploring movements that come from within themselves. The children are able to exercise agency and the scaffolding can lead to greater freedom in their movements.
What is Guided Participation?
Early Childhood expert Barbara Rogoff uses the term “guided participation” where it is enough for an educator to simply “join in” for children to have enough assistance to learn something new. This is especially true of dance experiences. Children are more likely to join in if they see their educators having fun.
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