What is scaffolding in early childhood education?

*First published October, 2020
*Updated January, 2025

What is scaffolding?

Scaffolding is a core concept in early childhood education, where children’s learning is fostered through intentional guidance and encouragement. It refers to the practice of educators or caregivers offering a temporary level of support to a child, tailoring their approach to match the child’s developmental level, and helping them accomplish tasks or acquire new skills.This support is tailored to the child’s developmental level and gradually removed as the child gains independence. Most caregivers and educators engage in scaffolding daily without realizing it. Whether assisting a child in solving a puzzle, encouraging them to try a new activity, or guiding them through a challenging task, scaffolding is integral to fostering child development.

Understanding scaffolding in early childhood education

The term “scaffolding” originated from the work of psychologist Lev Vygotsky, who introduced the concept of the zone of proximal development (ZPD). This zone represents the range of tasks a child can perform with help but cannot yet achieve independently. Scaffolding bridges this gap by providing the right level of assistance to advance a child’s learning.

Scaffolding and the Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD)

The ZPD represents the range of abilities or knowledge a learner can achieve with help but cannot yet manage alone. It lies just beyond their current skill level, acting as the bridge to mastering new concepts or tasks.

Instructional scaffolding is a teaching strategy rooted in ZPD and follows the idea that learners make greater progress when supported by someone with more advanced skills or knowledge. This could be a teacher or caregiver providing guidance and encouragement, or even a more advanced peer who models the task at hand during parallel play.

Example of ZPD in an Early Childhood Classroom

In a toddler classroom, consider a two year old who is learning how to pour water from a small pitcher into a cup. On their own, they might be able to pour the water while potentially struggling to hold the jug and spilling some or over-filling the cup, as a perfect pour might lie just beyond their current ability. However, with guidance from a teacher, they can learn to pour the water carefully. The teacher might help by guiding the child’s hands to tilt the pitcher slowly or demonstrate how to monitor the water level while pouring. This skill—pouring water carefully—lies within the child’s Zone of Proximal Development (ZPD), meaning it’s something the child can achieve with some support.

Maximizing Learning Through Scaffolding

In early childhood development, effective scaffolding might include:

• Giving clear instructions
• Demonstrating a task intentionally, or unintentionally through modelling
• Asking open-ended questions
• Offering hints to guide problem-solving
• Providing encouragement to build confidence

The key to scaffolding with young children lies in adjusting strategies to match their unique developmental level. For instance, when a child is close to completing a task independently, the support should be minimal, focusing on encouragement. If a child struggles, more direct guidance or demonstrations may be necessary to help them understand and apply new knowledge.

The importance of matching support to the child’s level

Scaffolding should align with the child’s developmental stage to foster engagement and growth. Here are examples of effectively aligning support with the child’s skills and abilities:

• Matching foundational skills to the child’s readiness: For a preschooler learning early math concepts, introducing cognitive activities like sorting objects by size or counting familiar items helps build foundational skills in an age-appropriate way. These tasks align with their current cognitive abilities while gently introducing new concepts.
• Challenging a child at their level of ability: For a preschooler who can already run, jump, and skip, introducing activities like balancing on a beam or navigating an obstacle course provides an appropriate challenge. This scaffolding builds on existing skills, keeping the child engaged and encouraging critical thinking as they navigate new tasks.

When the support aligns with the child’s developmental stage, the learning experience becomes more meaningful and enjoyable, creating a strong foundation for growth.

The benefits of scaffolding in early childhood education

Scaffolding provides numerous benefits to young learners, including:

• Encouraging independence: By gradually reducing support, children develop confidence and autonomy in their skills. 
• Fostering problem-solving skills: Scaffolding helps children approach challenges step-by-step, enhancing their ability to think critically and solve problems on their own.
• Supporting diverse learners: Scaffolding is designed to be tailored to meet the unique needs of each child, ensuring an inclusive learning environment that welcomes all learning levels.

Implementing Scaffolding Techniques: Practical tips for educators

Early childhood educators can implement high-quality scaffolding strategies by:

1. Observing children’s development: Understand where each individual child lies in their developmental milestones to make sure you are providing appropriate support.
   
2. Creating a supportive learning environment: Offer materials and activities that encourage independent exploration and discovery in the classroom.
   
3. Incorporating scaffolding into lesson plans: Plan activities that gradually build upon each other and support children’s growing skills and knowledge.
   
4. Engaging in open-ended conversations: Use questions that stimulate thinking and allow children to express their own thoughts and come to their own conclusions.
   
5. Reflecting on your approach: Regularly assess whether your support matches the child’s needs and adjust accordingly.

If you’re looking to enhance your preschool curriculum with effective classroom teaching strategies, Lillio Learning, powered by FunShine Express, offers a range of curriculum resources built with scaffolding techniques in mind. Designed to support educators and align with each child’s developmental level, our physical and digital materials for children ages 0-5 provide the tools you need to foster skill development and create meaningful learning experiences.