O Brincar Heurístico: a Escuta do Maravilhamento e da Voz da Criança em Creche
O Brincar Heurístico: a Escuta do Maravilhamento e da Voz da Criança em Creche
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.2531525131017
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Palavras-chave: Crianças, Voz, Brincar Heurístico, Maravilhamento, Creche.
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Keywords: Children, Voice, Heuristic Play, Wonder, Nursery.
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Abstract: Play is a fundamental dimension of childhood and a privileged means through which children relate to the world, explore possibilities, and construct knowledge. In nursery settings, where very early sensory, bodily, and symbolic interactions predominate, Heuristic Play assumes a distinctive role in daily educational practice by providing children with opportunities for agency and participation through the use of open-ended materials. This study, developed within the scope of the Pedagogical Practice (3rd year) of the Bachelor’s Degree in Basic Education at a Public Higher Education Institution in the Central Region of the country, focused on Heuristic Play and on Listening to the Voices of nursery-aged children, understood here as narratives that emerge from their actions, choices, rhythms, attempts, and discoveries. The research question guiding this study was: How do nursery-aged children, between 12 and 24 months old, engage with open-ended materials in the context of Heuristic Play? To support this qualitative investigation, three objectives were defined: (i) to identify the actions developed by children during Heuristic Play sessions; (ii) to analyse forms of exploration and meanings attributed to open-ended materials; and (iii) to recognise expressions of curiosity, autonomy, and wonder throughout the sessions. Data collection was carried out through participant observation and video recording of two sessions, followed by a thematic content analysis of the transcripts. The study’s findings indicate that Heuristic Play constitutes a privileged space for the expression of children’s autonomy and their multiple languages. The actions observed (placing, transferring, fitting, shaking) reveal the construction of physical and logical-mathematical hypotheses, while peer observation highlights the importance of social learning. The study also emphasises the emergence of moments of pure wonder and unique explorations, reinforcing the investigative dimension of this practice and the crucial role of the environment. In sum, this investigation contributes to a deeper understanding of how nursery-aged children construct knowledge, valuing their agency and recognising Heuristic Play as a space of authentic expression of childhood.
- Luís Miguel Gonçalves de Oliveira
- Mariana Reis Oliveira
- Joana Alexandra Soares de Freitas Luís