Skip to main content
Log in

Constructive play in Waldorf and Normative preschools in Israel: technological thinking and design process during free play

  • Published:
International Journal of Technology and Design Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This paper examines constructive play in the context of Waldorf and normative kindergartens in Israel. In conceptualizing the output of children’s construction, the current research relies upon the fields of problem-solving and technological thinking, using the design process model. The research results were based on a sample of 39 construction processes collected over the course of one year. A relatively high percentage of construction targets 86% geared towards socio-dramatic play was found at the Waldorf preschools compared to 35% at the normative preschools, indicating that the constructive play is a central feature at the Waldorf preschools and it can serve other types of play as well.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Carlsson-Paige, N., McLaughlin, G., & Almon, J. (2015). Reading Instruction in Kindergarten: Little to Gain and Much to Lose. Published online by the Alliance for Childhood. http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/sites/allianceforchildhood.org/files.

  • Casey, B. M., Andrews, N., Schindler, H., Kersh, J. E., Samper, A., & Copley, J. (2008). The development of spatial skills through interventions involving block building activities. Cognition and Instruction, 26, 269–309.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleer, M. (1999). The science of technology: Young children working technologically. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 9, 269–291.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleer, M. (2000). Working technologically: Investigations into How Young Children design and make during technology education. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 10, 43–59.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Giro, J. (2006). The situated function–behaviour–structure framework, University of Sydney. Design Studies, 25, 373–391.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Goswami, U. (2011). Handbook of childhood cognitive development. West Sussex: Blackwell Publishing.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hirsh-Pasek, K., Golinkoff, R. M., Berk, L., & Singer, D. (2009). A Mandate for playful learning in preschool: Presenting the evidence. New York: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levy, S. L. (2013). Young children’s learning of water physics by constructing working systems. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 23, 537–566.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Marcinowski, E., & Campbell, J. (2016). Building on what you have learned Object construction skill during infancy predicts the comprehension of spatial relations words. International Journal of Behavioral Development, 12, 28–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • McCormack, T., & Atance, C. (2011). Planning in young children: A review and synthesis. Developmental Review, 31, 1–31.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Education (2009). Curriculum of the official kindergarten. Department of Planning and Curriculum Development.

  • Ministry of Education. (2010). Educational activities in the kindergarten, guidelines for the educational staff. Jerusalem: Publications Division.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mioduser, D. (1998). Framework for the study of cognitive and curricular issues of technological problem solving. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 8(2), 167–184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mioduser, D., & Kipperman, D. (2002). Evaluation/Modification Cycles in Junior High Students’ technological problem solving. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 12, 123–138.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mioduser, D., & Levy, S. L. (2010). Making sense by building sense: Kindergarten Children’s construction and understanding of adaptive robot behaviors. International Journal of Computer and Math Learning, 15, 99–127.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mioduser, D., Levy, S. L., & Tails, V. (2009). Episodes to scripts to rules: concrete-abstractions in kindergarten children’s explanations of a robot’s behavior. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 19, 15–36.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ness, D., & Farenga, S. (2007). Knowledge under construction: The importance of play in developing children’s spatial and geometric thinking. Lanham: Rowman & Littlefield.

    Google Scholar 

  • Papert, S. (1993). Mindstorms: Children, computers, and powerful ideas. New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pyle, A., & Luce-Kapler, R. (2014). Looking beyond the academic and developmental logics in kindergarten education: the role of Schwab’s commonplaces in classroom-based research. Early Child Development and Care, 184(12), 1960–1977.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ramani, G., Zippert, E., Schweitzer, S., & Pan, S. (2014). Preschool children’s joint block building during a guided play activity. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 35, 326–336.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Razzouk, R., & Shute, V. (2012). What is design thinking and why is it important? Review of Educational Research., 82(3), 330–348.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rubin, K. (1982). Non-social play in preschoolers: necessary evil? Child Development, 53, 651–657.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schweinhart, J., & Weikart, D. (1997). The high/scope pre- school curriculum comparison study through age 23. Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 12, 117–143.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Simon, H. (1996). The sciences of the artificial. Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundqvist, P., & Nilsson, T. (2018). Technology education in preschool: providing opportunities for children to use artifacts and to create. International Journal of Technology and Design Education, 28, 29–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verdine, B., Golinkoff, R., Hirsh-Pasek, K., & Newcombe, N. (2014a). Finding the missing piece: Blocks, puzzles, and shapes fuel school readiness. Trends in Neuroscience and Education., 3, 7–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verdine, B., Golinkoff, R., Hirsh-Pasek, K., Newcombe, N., Filipowicz, A., & Chang, A. (2014b). Deconstructing building blocks: Preschoolers’ spatial assembly performance relates to early mathematical skills. Child Development, 85(3), 1062–1076.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Salam Hasan Kodsi.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kodsi, S. Constructive play in Waldorf and Normative preschools in Israel: technological thinking and design process during free play. Int J Technol Des Educ 32, 735–748 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-020-09623-9

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10798-020-09623-9

Keywords

Navigation