About Filling And Emptying Schema

Filling and Emptying schema play involves precisely what it sounds like–exploring the movement of objects into and out of containers. Support children’s interest in this schema by providing them 3 basic categories of materials: Containers ( buckets and boxes), Stuff To Fill And Empty ( water and seashells), and Filling And Emptying Tools (spoons and tongs). Beware, filling and emptying schema play can get messy. Such exploration is actively suppressed in some settings because adults don’t want to deal with the mess. Many toddlers have been scolded for filling a basket with blocks, hauling it across the room, and dumping it with a gleeful smile.

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:

Human children have probably been exploring filling and emptying schema for as long as there have been human children.

Sand is another material that kids enjoy filling and emptying. Pause for a moment and consider the vast difference in the sensory experiences water and sand offer.

Cardboard boxes are readily available for filling and emptying. As are many other household items: pots, pans, backpacks, purses, reclaimed plastic yogurt containers, and pockets, for example.

Offering children large containers and big items to fill and empty allows them to build large muscles in the arms and legs as well as strengthen their core. It’s a chance to engage in what is called heavy work.

Finally, kids may be amazed to learn that they are not the only ones interested in filling and emptying schema play. It turns out cats and kittens enjoy it too.

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