About Connecting Schema

Connecting Schema involves building structures, hooking objects together, tying things up, combining ingredients, and generally joining materials together. Children exploring this schema may be interested in glue, staplers, hot glue guns, hammers and names, screwdrivers and screws, rope, Velcro, tape, and other materials used for connecting things.

In Schemas: A Practical Handbook, Laura England writes, “Children exploring this schema may have an interest in connecting blocks and train tracks, building and constructing; in addition to being interested in how they can connect themselves to items such as tying themselves to trees or friends! As a child’s understanding of connection becomes more sophisticated they may begin to explore disconnecting by separating toys, untying shoe laces and deconstructing things they have created.”¹

Suggested Loose Parts

Here’s an incomplete list of loose parts that support this play schema:

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:

Connecting schema often involves interest in rope, string, yarn, and other items that can be knotted or used to bind materials. Kids exploring this schema my become interested in tying their shoes, buttoning, and zipping.

Staplers, tape, and sticky notes are very popular with children exploring connecting schema.

Connecting schema explorers may also show interest in using blocks and other small loose parts to connect. These creations may be simple of very complex and detailed.

An interest in both tools and how things are put together may also become part of children’s connection schema investigation. This can lead to an interest in STEM play and exploration.

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1. England, Laura. Schemas: A Practical Handbook (p. 13). Bloomsbury Publishing. Kindle Edition.