Metodo

International Studies in Phenomenology and Philosophy

Series | Book | Chapter

212967

Promoting abstract thinking in young children's play

Bert van OersMariëlle Poland

pp. 121-136

Abstract

Abstract thinking is generally seen as an ability that is not accessible for young children. In Developmental Education, however, teachers introduce young children to activities that call for abstract processes that make sense to them. When we conceive of abstraction as an act of representing reality from a specific point of view, it turns out that young children are able to focus consistently on one point (neglecting others), and hence to abstract. This chapter describes examples of how children can act abstractly in the context of their play and can represent their abstract point of view schematically. By so doing young children can even appropriate the ability to abstract up to a level that helps them when mastering elementary mathematical operations. The chapter shows practical ways of abstracting and schematising with young children, and argues for the meaningful inclusion of schematising activities in young children's play.

Publication details

Published in:

van Oers Bert (2012) Developmental education for young children: concept, practice and implementation. Dordrecht, Springer.

Pages: 121-136

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4617-6_8

Full citation:

van Oers Bert, Poland Mariëlle (2012) „Promoting abstract thinking in young children's play“, In: B. Van Oers (ed.), Developmental education for young children, Dordrecht, Springer, 121–136.