Builders!

We recently added a bin of PVC pipes to our outside materials.Sure, they may look ordinary at first glance, but these pipes have taken on an entire new life through the preschooler's play. I noticed that G and K had often been playing construction worker. This involved lots of digging, Tonka trucks and, of course, the PVC pipes. The pipes began as "shovels" or other tools. This often started as a solo activity. One of the children would pick up one pipe and apply it in the game s/he was playing.

However, when the preschoolers began to connect the pipes imagination blossomed! Over the course of a few days I would set out a basic connected shape, often upright and 3 dimensional and observe how the preschoolers decided to expand on it. When the preschoolers saw me connecting the pipes at the joints, they wanted to join in. I noticed that the theme for building focused on houses. “We're making a foundation!” G informed me. “Yeah, a foundation.” K joined in.

This consisted of a few Preschoolers arranging pipes along the ground. After they were arranged, the PSers twisted the pipe joints to connect them. Some of the looser ones slid together while others were more challenging. This helped in the development of coordination and problem solving skills.

The next day we began with a slightly larger structure that was immediately deemed a house. IO and K crawled in. When G tried to join IO observed, “there isn't enough room!” This prompted E to locate more materials for expansion. 2 tables, 2 chairs, 3 shutters and various other objects were added to the structure. The tables became bunk beds. At one point G peeked under one of the tables where T was curled up, “Hey, I was sleeping,” she laughed. A large flower pot became the “bathtub” and we used a sheet as the roof. Here is the structure in the process of being built:

And after the additions:

While the PVC pipes assisted in the practice of basic coordination skills, I also noticed that the preschoolers practiced social skills as they built the house. Every present child participated in the activity and they all worked out a plan for the house together. The entire project started when G tried to enter the initial house and E decided to expand it so that everyone could fit into the house. I heard S state as she carried a flower pot over, “This is for my house!” IO observed, “Your house? This is our house.” “Oh yeah.” S responded. Each child took on a job, or accepted one from another child who was planning the house. When I took a step back and let the play naturally develop I was able to observe how the preschoolers developed a whole social order where they were practicing negotiation, delegation and teamwork. Awesome!

Today I set up a building station with blocks inside. This also became a house but was shortlived. Tomorrow I will set up an outdoor building station with PVC pipes, bricks, rocks, the wheelbarrow and see where the preschoolers take our play next.