The toddler room has made it a regular part of their morning set up to create provocations in our classroom. We have used our sensory bin, our large green floor bin and even our tables in order to give us a platform to create these.
When the toddlers enter the classroom many throughout the year have become accustomed to looking for what has been set out to evoke their interest on that particular day. We have noticed that when we put out a provocation with thoughts about how the children will use it often becomes something completely different, which shows us how their creative thinking shines.
Puzzles for example, have become moving vehicles for play or props for the children to sing and imitate their educators singing their favourite songs. Our small mini golf games became a colour recognition game with a number of children not only recognizing the colours of the small balls but also traveling the classroom for other items that were the same colour. Painting activities always go from brushes and other mediums to finger and hand painting with the children laughing at the look and feel of the paint on their hands. This supports the learning of the world around them and language as they describe what they are doing and listen to the educators use words they may not be familiar with, helping expand their vocabulary.
Provocations are a great opportunity for children to become completely engaged in the activity. The questions they may have and the conversations that we have with them help them understand, learn and develop. A provocation provides the children with new experiences and challenges a new level of thinking. They explore completely on their own or with peers which can help with turn taking, social development as well as vocabulary building. You can also provide your children with your own provocations at home objects pictures or even old things displayed in a different or new way. The educators will provide the children with these opportunities as the children look forward to their introduction daily.
