Children and Concepts

Hello there! If you

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to my email feed or look at my eBook.

Exploring concepts should be an engaging activity. Often children are simply taught to memorise basic concepts that are descriptions of size (big/little) or show location (up/down). Children learn these types of concepts by listening to adults and older children, following commands and directions. Concepts are also often learnt by reading books. An active approach to learning concepts not only makes it more fun, it is promotes the development of richer concepts and links between different concepts. 
Concepts can be divided into:

• Spatial (location),
• Temporal (time),
• Quantity (number),
• Quality (description),
• Social-emotional (feelings).

Concepts with distinctive attributes are often learnt first. There is more of the "bigness” in the concept big compared to the concept small. Concepts are often taught in pairs and children understand unmarked concepts receptively (they can understand and comprehend what is being said or read). Marked concepts can be used both receptively and expressively.

Reading to your child is a great way to explore concepts. Look at pictures and illustrations and search for things that are on the bed or under the bed. Where is the BIG bear? And the small ladybird?

Search the room for things that are small or BIG. Think Dive and examine interesting things with being BIG/small. For some inspiration go here. 
The Shape of My Heart By Mark SperringA concept book with a difference as well as a loving message. Bright images that are attractive and filled with little things for little readers to explore.  It is a joy to spot familiar shapes on each page. Birds have a shape, food has a shape. But what about love?

This is the shape of the sun,

coming up to brighten our day.

And these are the shapes

that chirp and tweet. . .

and flitter-flutter away.