Teachable Moments and Scaffolding
When children are experimenting, being creative and taking risks, adults will often find they are presented with opportunities to support the development of the child’s thinking and problem- solving skills if they work with the child, rather than instructing them how to complete the task.
Teachable Moments
Teachable moments cannot be planned for, they are moments where the adult can spontaneously support a child:
- If they ask for help with their task,
- if it has become apparent that they are stuck and need help to move forward, or,
- if they may hurt themselves or others.
These are moments when the teacher can step in to support the child to make decisions about what they may need to do differently to complete the task.
Scaffolding
Scaffolding is guidance and support provided to children when they are doing or learning something that is age-appropriate or slightly above their ability. As children develop their skill and learning, the support provided will need to be reduced until the child is able to do the skill or task by themselves.
Strategies to support learning and development
There are a variety of ways to support children’s learning and development and it is useful to use a combination of these strategies:
Example of Scaffolding through a Teachable Moment
Building and Construction
Place a selection of equipment and recycled objects in the outdoor area that allows children to build their own structures.
Encourage the children to use natural material (rocks, wood, etc.), alongside the materials provided.
Allow them to complete as much as they can without your assistance; do be on hand to guide when it appears it has become too challenging or if you feel that there is a risk of harm.
Use the list of scaffolding concepts above to support the children.
Teach them to be safe by asking questions about the safety of the structure they are about to climb or the object they have built.