Understanding the Enclosing Schema in Early Childhood Development
March 2025
The Enclosing Schema is a natural behavioural pattern in young children that involves enclosing objects or themselves within defined spaces. This play schema manifests when children create boundaries and borders, providing a sense of control and security in their environment. You can often observe this schema in activities like block play, dramatic play, and during various exploratory tasks.
While the Enclosing Schema is sometimes misunderstood as the Enveloping Schema which is to completely cover an object so that it is entirely hidden from view, the Enclosing focuses on surrounding or enclosing an object without fully obscuring it.
Children engaged in the enclosing schema might build walls with blocks, wrap dolls in fabric, or create enclosures using boxes. They might even wrap themselves up in materials or find small spaces to hide, demonstrating their interest in organizing and ordering their environment.
Through the Enclosing Schema, children are developing several important skills:
Spatial Awareness: They learn to recognize and manipulate the space around them, understanding how to create defined areas.
Mathematical Concepts: Children explore ideas related to size, shape, and patterns as they build enclosures. They begin to understand concepts of length, width, and area.
Body Awareness: Creating enclosures helps children develop a sense of self and body awareness as they navigate and position themselves within spaces.
Emotional Regulation: By establishing boundaries, children create safe zones that allow them to process emotions, leading to feelings of comfort and security. This is particularly beneficial for children who may feel anxious or overwhelmed.
Problem-Solving Skills: Engaging with the enclosing schema encourages children to think critically about how to create effective structures and boundaries.
To identify children engaged in the enclosing schema, look for the following behaviors:
Building Structures: Children may create fences, walls, or enclosures using blocks or other materials.
Wrapping Objects: You might see them wrap toys in fabric or place items in containers.
Creating Boundaries: They may define play areas with objects or ask others to stay within specific spaces.
Seeking Small Spaces: Children may enjoy hiding in corners, under tables, or in other small areas, demonstrating their need for security.
To nurture the enclosing schema at home, here are some ideas that you could offer:
Block Play: Provide a variety of building materials, such as blocks, cardboard boxes, and fabric, to encourage the creation of enclosures.
Dramatic Play Areas: Set up spaces where children can wrap, hide, or create boundaries around their play, enhancing imaginative scenarios.
Art Activities: Offer opportunities for children to use borders in their drawings using rulers, various markers, and pencils, or make collages where they can create defined areas using loose parts.
Introducing specific vocabulary can enhance children’s understanding of their experiences. Here are key terms to incorporate:
Positional Language: Next to, behind, in front of, above, below.
Measurement Terms: Tall, long, short, wide, length, height, width, equal, unequal.
Action Words: Enclose, wrap, contain, surround, confine.
Descriptive Terms: Safe, secure, contained.
Structural Vocabulary: Bridge, tunnel, fence, gate, wall, boundary, edge, corner, side, angle.
Using this vocabulary during play and discussions will help children articulate their experiences and deepen their comprehension of enclosing concepts.
The Enclosing Schema plays a vital role in early childhood development, allowing children to explore boundaries, organization, and spatial relationships. By supporting this schema through engaging activities and relevant vocabulary, you can foster critical skills such as spatial awareness, problem-solving, and emotional regulation. Encouraging exploration within the enclosing schema not only enhances children’s understanding of their environment but also provides them with a sense of security and comfort. Celebrate your child’s creativity and curiosity as they navigate and shape their world through play!
