Children in Australia are surrounded by construction sites and may be curious about the noise and commotion. They may have a building site next door or roadworks in their street. They may have family members who are construction or council workers, or who use tools at home.
Construction offers children sensory stimulation:
- Super-bright, high-vis clothing.
- Intensely loud tools and machinery.
- Lots of people coming and going.
- Large things being moved around.
Your children may also be interested in blocks and construction toys or trucks and construction vehicles. Also see electricity and engineering.
Early Years Learning Framework
Building aligns with the EYLF as it provokes curiosity, imagination and creativity (4.1). When children play with various materials, tools and vehicles, they experiment, investigate and solve problems (4.2).
When children see building sites in their community or interact with tradespeople, they connect with people and places (4.4).
Learning experiences
Dress up
Some children love to pretend they are builders or road workers. Children's costumes often include builder's outfits, but see if you can obtain real clothing too. Ask families if they have old work clothes to donate:
- Big boots with thick socks.
- Hi-vis wet weather jackets.
- Safety goggles and gloves.
- Tool belts.
Stimulate the senses
Building sites stimulate the senses and early childhood educators can offer children construction-themed sensory play:
- Add building blocks to a tray of dirt.
- Bang objects together to make loud noises.
- Offer loose parts with different textures, like sawdust, and timber and brick offcuts.
- Use plastic pipes for water play.
- Feel sandpaper.
Move muscles
Heavy lifting and hard work is rewarding for children. Educators can provide construction-themed learning experiences that teach motor skills:
- Roll playdough, pretending an unopened can of food is a steam roller.
- Move large, heavy objects around - boxes, crates, tree stumps. Encourage safe lifting techniques and teamwork.
- Hit a large cardboard box with pretend tools.
- Climb ladders, pull ropes, balance on beams, and push wheelbarrows.
Use real tools
While toy tools can be used by babies and toddlers, there is enormous benefit for preschool children to use real tools.
Educators and parents may be immediately concerned about safety (and this is still important!), but many early childhood programs around the world successfully and safely include the use of tools.
Children can be introduced to a variety of handheld tools - hammers, drills, screwdrivers, small saws, nails, screws, nuts and bolts, and sandpaper.
- Start slowly with safer tools (e.g. use small rubber mallets to tap golf tees into playdough).
- Define clear classroom rules. Write them down and remind children regularly.
- Limit the number of children at your woodwork bench and maintain adequate supervision.
- Teach children to care for and respect their tools.
- Teach children how to use tools correctly.
- Help children when they need it (e.g. starting the nails for them).
Family and community connections
Document a building process
If a building is going up near your childcare centre, support your children in documenting the process. Draw pictures and take photos of each stage to see how the building develops over time.
Invite a tradesperson to visit
Talk to children about different construction jobs. Make a list of job titles and discuss what these people do (e.g. carpenter, electrician, construction manager, plumber, plasterer and landscaper).
Ask your families and staff if they know someone who works in a trade. Invite them to visit your children. They can talk about their work, answer questions, and demonstrate some of their skills.
Interactions
Support children's vocabulary during their play by using descriptive words:
- "That piece of timber is very rough."
- "You need strong legs to climb a ladder."
- "Bang, crash, ratatata! This is a noisy building site!"
- "Your jacket is so bright!"
Resources
Picture books
Construction by Aubrey De Grey
Music and sounds
YouTube: Construction site sound effects
Videos
YouTube: Bob the Builder