About Back And Forth Schema

Back and forth schema play involves exploring the reciprocal or back-and-forth movement of objects. Children may express their interest in this schema by rolling a ball or toy car back and forth, studying the motion of pendulums and swings, making side-to-side marks with crayons, or delighting in the movement of a hinge or pair of scissors.

Suggested Loose Parts

Here’s an incomplete list of loose parts that support back and forth schema play:

Have an idea I should add to the list? Share it in the comments or contact me.

Examples

Some examples of this play schema in action:

Some children exploring back and forth schema play put themselves in motion with rollerskates, skateboards, scooters, trikes, and bikes.

Others enjoy exploring object-based back and forth schemawith things like balls and frisbees.

Rolling toy cars and trucks back and forth is another means for exploring this schema.

Observing the back and forth movement of pendulums is another method of exploration…

…as is back and forth or up and down mark making with pens, paintbrushes, chalk, markers, and crayons.

Back and forth schema mark-making can also happen with sticks or other implements in sand, dirt, mud, snow, and other sensory play concoctions.

Moving up and down on a trampoline or teeter-totter, or back and forth on a swing, is another means of exploring this schema. Note that children may explore the schema from the sidelines by watching others. The observer will exhibit interest in watching other children swing a hammer, paint, work a handpump in the water play area, or bob up and down on a teeter-totter.

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