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Young Children's Self-Initiated Pattern-Making during Free Play

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Title: Young Children's Self-Initiated Pattern-Making during Free Play
Language: English
Authors: Miriam M. Lüken (ORCID 0000-0002-8213-7558)
Source: Mathematical Thinking and Learning: An International Journal. 2025 27(2):221-241.
Availability: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 21
Publication Date: 2025
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: Early Childhood Education
Descriptors: Play, Pattern Recognition, Early Childhood Education, Serial Ordering, Mathematical Concepts, Difficulty Level, Age Differences, Foreign Countries, Preschool Children, Infants, Geometry, Manipulative Materials
Geographic Terms: Germany
DOI: 10.1080/10986065.2023.2276798
ISSN: 1098-6065
1532-7833
Abstract: Young children spontaneously create patterns during play. However, this self-initiated pattern-making has yet to be systematically researched. In particular, the extent of self-initiated pattern-making, the pattern types young children create, and the potential differences in pattern-making for different ages are still to be examined. Investigating pattern-making in natural play-situations, the study observed 84 children during free play in their early childhood classrooms. All arrangements that children created on their own accord were documented. Nearly all children engaged in creating arrangements as a self-initiated activity, but the total number of creations varied largely between children. A significant, medium correlation was found between pattern-making and children's ages. Most patterns were reflections, but also translation-patterns, rotation-patterns, and growing patterns were created. Significant differences regarding age seem to hint at a development from creating repeating patterns with a simple structure to patterns with a more complex unit of repeat and creating growing patterns.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 20260101
Accession Number: EJ1509351
Database: ERIC
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  Data: Young Children's Self-Initiated Pattern-Making during Free Play
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Miriam+M%2E+Lüken%22">Miriam M. Lüken</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8213-7558">0000-0002-8213-7558</externalLink>)
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  Data: Routledge. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
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  Data: 10.1080/10986065.2023.2276798
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  Data: 1098-6065<br />1532-7833
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  Data: Young children spontaneously create patterns during play. However, this self-initiated pattern-making has yet to be systematically researched. In particular, the extent of self-initiated pattern-making, the pattern types young children create, and the potential differences in pattern-making for different ages are still to be examined. Investigating pattern-making in natural play-situations, the study observed 84 children during free play in their early childhood classrooms. All arrangements that children created on their own accord were documented. Nearly all children engaged in creating arrangements as a self-initiated activity, but the total number of creations varied largely between children. A significant, medium correlation was found between pattern-making and children's ages. Most patterns were reflections, but also translation-patterns, rotation-patterns, and growing patterns were created. Significant differences regarding age seem to hint at a development from creating repeating patterns with a simple structure to patterns with a more complex unit of repeat and creating growing patterns.
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        Value: 10.1080/10986065.2023.2276798
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      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 221
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Play
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Pattern Recognition
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Early Childhood Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Serial Ordering
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mathematical Concepts
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      – SubjectFull: Difficulty Level
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      – SubjectFull: Age Differences
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      – SubjectFull: Foreign Countries
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      – SubjectFull: Preschool Children
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      – SubjectFull: Infants
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      – SubjectFull: Geometry
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      – SubjectFull: Manipulative Materials
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      – SubjectFull: Germany
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      – TitleFull: Young Children's Self-Initiated Pattern-Making during Free Play
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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              Value: 1098-6065
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            – TitleFull: Mathematical Thinking and Learning: An International Journal
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