Do I intervene or not?
Describe:
I had set a learning experience which was shaving cream and various items like cars, and, sticks and Jimmy knockers. I step up four trays with shaving foam on each tray and the items in front of each tray. I then asked children if they would like to try and once there were children at the table playing I stepped back and observed what they did with the shaving foam and all the items. I observed a child pouring the sand onto the shaving foam and mix them together and run it all over there hands and then up their forearm. I observed another child (c) scooping the shaving cream with a popsicle stick and placing it up towards his mouth. So, I decided rather than tell this child not to put it in his mouth and interrupting the play I decided to narrate what I knew and what I saw happening to the child. I said, “I can see you playing with the shaving foam, I can see child a and child b playing with the shaving foam on the tray and on their hands”. Child C then placed it up towards his mouth and stopped before it got to their mouth.
Analyse:
As Child C is under three they are still in a sensorimotor stage in their development in which a lot of the information that they gather is from their senses and having sensory experiences (Aubrey & Riley, 2016). I decided to narrate what I knew and what I saw happening because I’m classmates suggested that it might be a good way to explain what is happening in the situation without intervening into the situation. I think why I chose to try this way was because it was a quiet space with only a few children and I did not think there was a reason for me to intervene straight away. I choose to do this learning experience because it was a messy play and sensory learning experience and I had noticed that a messy play or sensory experience like this had not been lately and with our centre now being a mixed centre I thought that this would be a good experience for the carrying ages that we have.
Theorise:
As we are now a mixed centre I know that when doing experience like this I need to be aware of what I am using and whether it is suitable for the infants and toddlers to use. As what they touch can end up their mouth. With me narrating what I saw I was able to explain what I saw all the children were doing could have provoked child c to observe what their peers were doing and possibly play with or alongside them (Ministry of Education, 2017).
Doing these types of learning experiences are good for all ages as the children can use a range of their senses but I know that consideration towards what materials are used with the different ages I work with. In which using more edible materials would be more inclusive with the younger children and children who like to place things into their mouths. But in te ao Māori perspective using food for or within play can be regarded as tapu, as Pere (1997) states “Food in some contexts, however, can also be regarded as absolutely profane particularly in regard to the principle of ‘tapu’” (p.48).
Act:
I think that this approach worked in limiting my intervention, I do feel that with me using this approach more I will gain more confidence in narrating the situation. As I know that I was unsure if what I was saying was the right or the best things to say when narrating the situation. I think that having a quiet and small group was a good way for me to begin with this approach as was able to speak calmly and quietly. Also from reflecting on this situation I feel that I need to find safer materials for the mixed age range that we have now so that when I do these sensory experiences all of the children can join in and I won't have to be worried about their safety and I will not have to intervene as much especially around them eating or tasting the sensory play.
References:
Ministry of Education. (2017). Te Whāriki. He whāriki mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa: Early childhood curriculum. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Education.
Pere, R. (1997). Te wheke: A celebration of infinite wisdom. (2nd ed.). Wairoa, New Zealand: Ao Ako Learning New Zealand.
And again, Chelsea... my comments are in Turnitin
ReplyDeleteR