Do you often notice your little one putting things or themselves in boxes? Does your child keep drawing or creating boundaries around different things? You might have seen it a hundred times, but this isn’t random. It is their way of exploring concepts like space, boundaries, and containment.
But how does this make them good problem solvers?
This act of enclosing anything or themselves is the enclosing play schema, and this teaches them problem-solving by encouraging them to think critically about how objects interact with boundaries. Think of it as the necessary ingredient for their brain development.
This simple, repetitive play lays the groundwork for some serious skills and turns them into little but smart problem solvers. Let’s understand in detail how this works.
What is the enclosing schema, and how does it matter?
First, let’s understand a little more about what the enclosing schema is. It is a developmental pattern where your child is drawn towards specific activities that involve putting objects inside containers, wrapping items, or creating boundaries around things. But this quirky act of theirs isn’t just another play.
They are exploring the world around them and developing important cognitive and physical skills, such as spatial awareness, fine motor control, and problem-solving.
This play schema – a repetitive play – engages them in a playful pattern, encouraging their creativity and logical thinking. However, most notably, it sets the essential developmental foundation for these little problem solvers.
When fitting things together or organizing their space, they are interacting with various concepts and become smarter at thinking and solving. It helps them understand concepts like cause and effect – what happens when a box is too full to close, and these are important developmental milestones for your child.
When children face setbacks and keep trying, they understand that effort and adaptability lead to success. They realise the importance of perseverance and learn not to give up easily. It might feel early, but the more you nurture these problem solvers in enclosing play schema now, the better their chances to build a positive, can-do attitude, preparing them for a future filled with opportunities and growth.
Why are problem-solving skills important?
Of all the skills that the enclosing schema supports, problem-solving is one of the most important developmental milestones. Why, you ask? Well, it is definitely a necessary skill, but more than that, it helps lay the foundation for them to tackle the challenges of life and make informed decisions in the future.
You will be surprised at how nurturing these skills early can help your child become a smarter and more confident adult.
Learning to solve problems lays the foundation for independence and resilience. It helps them tackle obstacles with confidence, whether it’s figuring out how to tie their shoes, resolving a conflict with a friend, or completing a tricky puzzle.
Problem solvers aren’t born—they are nurtured through everyday challenges and creative play. Look at it this way: When your child learns to assess situations and explore various options, they start thinking outside the box to find solutions. They also focus more on self-directed learning, and this is important for building their confidence and helping their self-esteem.
These skills aren’t just about immediate issues; they are tools that they will carry into adulthood, enabling them to handle academic challenges, career demands, and personal relationships better.
So, how does the enclosing schema make your child better problem solvers?
When your child is encouraged to think a little more or think in a completely new manner through simple, everyday play activities, they transform into capable and confident individuals.
Here’s how the enclosing schema - putting things inside boxes or wrapping items – helps your child become better problem solvers:
1. Teaches them about space
When kids put objects into a container or build walls around their toys, they are learning about boundaries and space. Isn’t it amazing how simple and fun activities, which look and probably are completely random play, can teach so much?
When they indulge in enclosing schema play, they learn to figure out what fits where, how much can go in before it overflows, or how to manage space effectively. This isn’t just their first lesson in spatial awareness but also their introduction to concepts like cause-and-effect and puzzle-solving. Problem solvers view challenges not as obstacles but as opportunities to learn and grow, and your child will use these concepts later for puzzles, building structures, and even packing a bag.
2. Supports their logical thinking
Enclosing play helps kids organise their thoughts. When they sort blocks by size and tuck them neatly into a box, they are developing problem-solving skills like categorisation and sequencing. It’s logic in action—though it might just look like “put toy in box” to us.
It’s amazing how much children actually learn while engaging in fun, playful activities. As early as 12-15 months, your child learns to engage in logical thinking, and their little minds can actually think deeper and more critically than we attribute to them. As parents, we must support such activities and create opportunities for them to think critically so that they become proactive problem solvers.
3. Improves their fine motor skills
Every time they snap a lid shut, zip a pouch, or fold a blanket around a stuffed animal, those tiny hands are getting stronger and more coordinated. And you know what? Fine motor skills are key for solving all kinds of challenges, from tying shoelaces to building a Lego masterpiece.
Yes, your little problem solvers aren’t just solving a problem on their own but also enhancing their fine motor skills and becoming more refined in their movements.
4. Helps them learn cause-and-effect
When your child stuffs too many blocks into a small box, and the lid won’t close, they are learning about the importance of their actions and their consequences. These simple yet important developmental milestones are setting the foundation for more complex learning.
This is one of the safest ways for them to test out what works and what doesn’t—life lessons they will carry into more complex situations as they grow.
5. Encourages them to experiment
Enclosing schema lets kids explore different approaches: “What happens if I use a bigger container?” or “What if I stack the blocks instead of packing them?”
They’re figuring out that there’s more than one way to solve a problem, and this not only encourages them to experiment but also to take more risks. Encouraging kids to experiment and explore helps shape them into confident problem solvers.
6. Staying calm
It’s amazing how much simple random play with the enclosing schema actually does for your child. The repetitive play gives them a sense of control and accomplishment, and this comes in handy when they are tackling a tricky problem. A calm mind is a problem-solving mind, and the more they engage in it, the more confident they become in all of their activities.
Behavioural indicators of the enclosing schema (and a sign they are getting ready as problem solvers)
Here’s how you can spot the enclosing schema in action and know your child is gearing up to be a budding problem tackler and solver:
- Putting themselves or things into boxes: They sit inside boxes, baskets, or other small spaces or place toys inside and pretend they are “contained.”
- Filling and emptying containers: They repeatedly put objects into boxes, jars, or bags and then take them out.
- Wrapping items: They enjoy wrapping toys, books, or even themselves in blankets or scarves.
- Drawing boundaries: They draw circles, squares, or outlines around objects or on paper to enclose them.
- Organizing and packing: They love packing toys into bags or arranging items neatly in drawers.
- Closing and opening lids: They spend time figuring out how to close and reopen boxes, jars, or containers and act as little problem solvers
- Experimenting with fitting objects: They try different combinations of objects to see what fits or works best together.
- Repetition of enclosing actions: They repeat enclosing activities with focus, showing determination and problem-solving instincts.
How can you support this schema and encourage them to be problem solvers?
Here’s the good news: you don’t need fancy toys or elaborate setups. Everyday items work perfectly!
- Boxes and Baskets: Encourage them to pack and unpack.
- Blankets and Scarves: Let them wrap up their toys—or themselves!
- Zip Bags and Containers: Offer a variety of sizes for them to explore.
FAQs
Q. What is purposeful play?
Purposeful play is guided play that encourages children to explore, experiment, and learn while having fun. It combines creativity with problem-solving opportunities in a structured yet flexible way.
Q. How does purposeful play improve problem-solving skills?
Purposeful play challenges children to think critically, try new solutions, and learn from mistakes, building resilience and confidence in their abilities.
Q. At what age do children start problem-solving?
Children start developing problem-solving skills as early as infancy. Around 8-12 months, babies begin experimenting with cause-and-effect, like figuring out how to retrieve a toy. As they grow, these skills become more refined through purposeful play and real-life experiences.
Q. What is problem-solving in children?
Problem-solving in children refers to their ability to identify challenges, think critically, and find solutions through exploration, reasoning, and creativity. It involves skills like decision-making, planning, and trial-and-error, which develop naturally through play and everyday experiences.