Choo-Choo! (Riding on our own trains)

Date: July 13, 2022
Time: Work Time
Facilitators: Jasmine

PROPS USED

Wooden railway track puzzle pieces and Toy cars/Trains.

What was the activity?

The activity involved exploring the railway track and moving toy vehicles on them.

Why did we plan this activity?

• Physical Development: Fine motor skills were enhanced since they put the toy trains over the tracks and pulled the trains around. 

• Creativity & Imagination: The toddlers were given the freedom to explore the tracks and take the train in whichever direction they want. They imagined taking the train from their houses to their school, Arth. 

• Problem solving skill: The kids were trying to assemble train tracks when disjoined and move their trains on the track without obstacles, all of which leads to the development of problem solving skills.

• Cooperative play: The kids were encouraged to cooperatively play with other peers. Eg. They were asked to wait with their trains when another person’s train was being moved over the bridge. Thus developing socio emotional skills.

The Series of Steps engaged in?

Three loops constructed out of the wooden railway blocks were kept on the floor around the light area table. Facilitator sat and started engaging with the blocks while subtly inviting whosoever wishes to come and play. Children picked up their own toy trains from the rack and started riding.

How did it go? (Finally!)

A lot of pretend play was involved while playing with the toy trains. Neyansh remembered making houses with wooden blocks from last time, so he asked the facilitator to build his house with those again along the railway tracks.. He said “yes” to building the school, Arth, with those blocks as well. Subsequently, his train traveled from his house to school and back. Ayaansh enjoyed recognising the colors of the wheels of the train. Consequently, the facilitator started singing the rhyme “wheels on the bus go round and round” and many of the kids resonated with the familiar rhythm. Krishay disjoined the railway track placed on the far right hand side and seemed eager to do the same with the middle loop when he was politely persuaded to not destroy the tracks since his friends were riding their trains on them. Taksh, Prisha, Daksh and Aaradhya also played with the blocks. The arthlings found the plastic bridge quite fascinating and all of them wanted to ride over it. They were motivated to wait for their turns, thus inducing cooperative play. Neyansh and Advaith helped in picking up the pieces and putting them back in the rack during cleaning time.