Jan 6 • General discussion
Proprioceptive play input
🌿💪 BIG MOVEMENT, BIG PURPOSE — SCHEMA SPOTLIGHT 💪🌿
Yesterday at the allotment, my little boy spent ages moving large planks of wood — helping out, problem-solving, and feeling so proud of himself.
He loves being in charge.
He loves feeling useful.
And he always seeks big movement.
To many, it might look like “just helping.”
But underneath it all, this kind of play is meeting deep developmental needs — and wiring his brain for lifelong skills.
🌀 TRAJECTORY SCHEMA
This is all about movement — lifting, dragging, pushing, carrying.
Every time he moves those planks, he’s exploring:
✨ Force
✨ Resistance
✨ Direction
✨ Control
✨ Cause and effect
It’s early physics. It’s body awareness. It’s emotional regulation through movement.
🧺 TRANSPORTING SCHEMA
He’s not just moving wood — he’s relocating, organising, sequencing.
This builds:
✨ Executive function
✨ Planning skills
✨ Working memory
✨ Spatial reasoning
It’s the kind of brain work that supports maths, problem-solving, and task management later in life.
🧠 WHAT NEED IS HE MEETING?
He’s meeting his need for:
💛 Autonomy
💛 Purpose
💛 Big-body movement
💛 Sensory regulation
💛 Feeling capable and trusted
This kind of play is essential for children who seek proprioceptive input — the deep muscle work that helps them feel calm, grounded, and in control of their bodies.
🌿 THIS is why we observe schemas.
Because when we understand what children are really doing, we can support it with intention, language, and love.
And when we link it to brain development, we can confidently explain the learning — to parents, to inspectors, to ourselves.
🌟 Want to learn how to do this in your own setting?
Our Where the Wild Ones Learn Accreditation teaches you how to:
🌱 Identify schemas outdoors
🌱 Map play to learning outcomes
🌱 Understand the developing brain
🌱 Create emotionally safe, nature-rich environments
🌱 Confidently articulate the learning you see every day
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Proprioceptive play input
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