What is Scaffolding?

Scaffolding offers children the right help at just the right time in the right way.

Decoding what is scaffolding in the simplest way: When children are given the support they need while attempting to learn a new concept or activity, they stand a better chance of using that knowledge independently.

Understanding how to scaffold can help you become more intentional in your interactions with your child when they are learning something new. This way, you develop the awareness and opportunities to scaffold in your everyday interactions.

Scaffolding will help you to help your child carry out a task or job that is slightly beyond their current abilities.

Unlocking what is scaffolding and how it can be introduced

Here are some ways in which you effectively scaffold and prepare your child better:

Direct Demonstration: Showing how to do something (E.g., showing how to stack rings)

Specific Instruction: “Get me the ball.”

General Instructions: “You give it a try.”

Gestures: Offering your hand when the child is learning to walk.

Encouragement: Saying things like: “You’ve got this, Keep going.” “Almost There. You did it.”

By understanding what is scaffolding and implementing it, you create a pathway between what your child already knows and something new they are attempting to understand and learn.

Successful scaffolding occurs in the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), which is the difference between what a child can do and learn on their own and what they can do and learn with the help of someone or a more knowledgeable other.

It is vital for parents to fully understand what is scaffolding first and then adopt different ways that will suit their children’s learning pace and style. It requires a good understanding of your child’s current interests, whether they are keen on doing the activity, and what your child’s learning style is. Parents must be realistic about the child’s development stages and learning capabilities. Depending on this, you may need to adjust how you scaffold and impart necessary skill development.

Scaffolding helps build self-confidence and motivation in the child and helps the child learn more than they might have on their own. Through scaffolding, children learning how to do something independently become children-friendly. It produces immediate results and instills the skills necessary for independent problem-solving in the future.

Scaffolding is situational and need-based and must be gradually lessened as the child gains mastery.

Therefore, engaging in play with the child and building from there is essential. Once you fully comprehend what is scaffolding, aligning playing and learning will become fruitful.