Finally understand what children are really doing when they play

Stop guessing. Start noticing the patterns. Transform how you see, support, and celebrate child-led learning.

Schemas are not something to teach or direct. They're something to notice.

If you've ever watched a child drop the same object over and over, or line things up with intense focus, or wrap themselves in fabric—you've seen a schema. You probably didn't have a name for it. You might have felt a bit unsure about what it meant. And you might have wondered if you should be doing something about it.

The thing is, you already know more than you think you do. You've been watching children's patterns all along. You just need a lens to make sense of what you're seeing.

The Complete Play Schemas Bundle

Nine downloadable PDF guides covering all nine play schemas. Each guide includes 5 purposeful play invitations and 20 real visual examples of children exploring that schema. Designed for early years practitioners, childminders, and anyone supporting young children's learning.

What's included in the bundle

Everything you need to understand and respond to schema-driven play across all nine schemas

45 Play Invitations

Purposeful ideas to support each schema, so you're never starting from scratch. Real invitations grounded in what children actually do, not what activity plans say they should do.

180 Visual Examples

Visual examples from practice. Four examples for every invitation, so you can see exactly what each schema looks like when children are exploring it.

9 Complete Guides

One PDF for each schema: Transporting, Rotation, Trajectory, Enveloping, Enclosing, Connecting, Transforming, Positioning, and Orientation. Download instantly. Use immediately.

This is for you if...

You're an early years practitioner, childminder, or nursery worker who's mentally full. You're holding observations, routines, safeguarding, parental communication, and the constant feeling that you should be doing more.

You've heard about schemas before, but you're not quite sure how to spot them in the moment or what to do when you do. You want something practical, not theoretical. Something you can use tomorrow, not file away for later.

You want to feel more confident in your own professional judgment. You want language for what you're already noticing. And you want to respond to children's play with intention, not guesswork.

Not ready to buy? Start with what's free

We've put together nine reflective posters—one for each schema—that you can download, print, and use as a thinking tool with your team. No email required. No catch.

Want the Schema Spotter too? Sign up for our newsletter and we'll send it straight to your inbox along with occasional updates about schema-driven play.

These aren't watered-down versions. They're genuinely useful on their own. But once you start spotting schemas, you'll probably want to know what to do next. That's where the bundle comes in.

Finally understand what children are really doing when they play