During our visit to the Children’s School, I observed a group of 4-year-olds in the workshop. They were given thin strips of wood and hand drills and tasked with making holes in the wood. Though they all diligently drilled in the beginning, they very quickly became bored and instead ran off to build with the magnetic and velcro blocks of to the side of the room.

The children were far more attracted to the bright colored blocks. And given that they could actually build and create whatever they wanted, rather than create the same holes over and over, they were far more eager and engaged.

This event demonstrates the children’s autonomy and initiative. Despite the teacher’s best efforts to get them interested in learning how to use tools, the children had their own ideas and decided on their own what they wanted to play with.