Outdoors, construction resources should include tyres, crates and larger blocks.
Construction play involves manipulating one or multiple elements of the play environment to construct something new. This involves all sorts of construction methods which may include stacking, assembling, disassembling, sorting or moulding. As well as this, using our construction skills can form an important part of other everyday play activities. For example, putting together a train track, building a den or castle using cardboard boxes, tubes and blankets, making models with playdough, woodworking and sewing, are all other valued methods of construction.
Many links can be made with construction and other areas in the Early Years curriculum and also to key life skills. To complement the physical skills of completing a construction model, children’s construction play also develops problem solving, planning the use of materials to see a design idea become a reality as well as to then test these ideas, perseverance when trying to construct a particular design and team work where necessary to successfully and collaboratively complete a task together.
Emily Stewart
Reception A Class Teacher