The materials presented during play-group provide the backdrop for interactions among the children that are the building blocks of social and emotional development. Sometimes what one child is doing attracts another to come closer and try out a material. A child's ability to draw another child into an experience is what makes for deeper interactions and explorations by the children. As Max and Sebastien explore the pencils and markers, Theo is walking by. One excited "ohhh" by Sebastien and he pauses to come get a marker for himself. The mark that Theo makes is eventually labeled by Sebastien as a football. This is the first time that Sebastien looks at a mark and names it.
A little while later. Amy and Annelise make separate drawings of balls to draw the boys back to the drawing and away from the fact that they want to use the same ball. Fast forward to the next session and watch as Max makes a mark and then labels it a basketball. Is he remembering the incident? I find is so interesting that he uses the orange pastel to make his "basketball".
Play group is also a time to test out social norms. Sebastien and Kaia practice when to say "thank you" which in their minds is what you say after you hand someone something.
The materials also provide many opportunities for children to negotiate with one another. Watch as Kaia and Sebastien have two different ideas about what to do with the chalk and pastels.
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