The beauty and the value of playing with authentic objects.
“What children learn does not follow as an automatic result from what is taught, rather, it is in large part due to the children’s own doing, as a consequence of their activities and our resources.”
Loris Malaguzzi, The Hundred Languages of Children
When we think about the environment as a third teacher the choices of materials, props and equipment plays a big role shaping the learning that will take place at those spaces.
To spark children’s natural curiosity and desire to learn and explore, we need to offer interesting materials and props that can generate wonder, imagination, creativity, independence and agency.
Real x fake
If you were given the choice of playing with a plastic tea set or a real china. Which one would pick?
if you chose china, you are not alone! Like most of us you went for the authentic resource. Probably because it is more beautiful, interesting and feels more real than the plastic one.
Authentic resources are real life objects that when used in play provide children with a richer play experience, because they offer much more elements to catch their eyes, engage their senses, spark their curiosity and entice their imagination.
Authentic resources comes in a great variety of designs, shapes, sizes, weights, materials, textures and uses. It’s diversity add a lot more flavour to children’s play, making them a fantastic substitute to the plain, boring and predictable plastic toys, that usually offer a very limited range of play possibilities.
The use of authentic resources will add a familiar layer to play as they are objects that children have seen at their homes but they can also of bring novelty and wonder if they come from times and places that children are not use to.
Like open ended materials, authentic resources are everywhere and can be easily acquired. They offer another easy, cheap and more sustainable alternative than the catalogue brought products.
Where to source the authentic resources?
Car boots and garage sales
Family and Friends
Ask for families donation
Find on the street
Second hand shops
Your house
What to look for?
Kitchen appliances and utensils
Clothes, accessories, jewellery, sun glasses, bags, suitcases
Trinkets
Decorative objects
Old electronics: cell phones, laptops, desk tops, landline phones, record player, cd player
Musical instruments
Furniture
Souvenirs from travel
Important:
Always do risk assessment on each resource prior to make them available for children to play