Heuristic Play

What is Heuristic Play?
Heuristic play is discovery play for toddlers between the ages of twelve and twenty four months. These carefully organised play sessions provide the toddlers with the opportunity to safely explore a range of everyday objects.

During a Heuristic play session a child will choose an object which can help them to gain an understanding of what it is, how it feels and what it can do. Each child’s choice will lead to another in a pleasurable process of discovery.

There is no right or wrong way for a child to engage in
Heuristic play, everything that the child does is successful.

The objects selected for use in Heuristic play are safe and clean; the children are always carefully observed and supervised.

What does a toddler learn from Heuristic Play?
Concentration – They consider how they will explore the objects, they make interesting formations with them and they become totally absorbed in their own activity.

To make choices – They select what objects they will use; this gives them the opportunity to be independent in their play.

Problem solving – They experiment fitting objects inside one another, they explore the properties of each object finding out how they move and fit together. They have the freedom to plan and develop their learning strategies.

Mathematical learning - They test how similar objects will have a different effect or action. They explore objects to find out their density and weight. They compare and sort the differences and possibilities of the objects.

Language development – Clearing away is an important part of Heuristic play and helps the children to further develop and understand language. This is achieved by giving the children clear and concise instructions, e.g. “can you find me the peg?” and “it is next to your foot”.

Manipulative play – They feel and compare objects to gain knowledge of their weight and texture, as well as the coldness, smoothness and sound. By filling and emptying containers they are exploring their hand–eye co-ordination.

Suitable items to be included in Heuristic play:
Corks, pine cones, tins, boxes, cylinders, coins, hair rollers, beads, tape measures, metal chains, cotton reels, ping pong balls, toothbrushes, pom poms, rubber tubing, shells, keys, pebbles, buttons, metal jar tops, curtain rings, egg cups.

The list is endless!