Since the beginning of time, children have been building things. Our ancestors used sticks and rocks and whatever they could find in nature to build with. It is an innate tendency in humans to need to build and create. Watching young children build with blocks is one of my favorite ways to observe in-depth learning taking place.
For young children, blocks really are the ultimate "toy". Here's why!
Creativity & Imagination- Blocks give children a creative outlet to bring whatever it is they have in mind to life. A magical fairy land, a farm, a rocket ship. You name it, blocks can make it.
Problem Solving- Figuring out how to make the blocks do what they want them to do is a great exercise in problem solving for young children.
Higher Order Thinking Skills- According to Bloom's Taxonomy, creating is the highest form of thinking. In addition to creating and problem solving, children are also analyzing when they use blocks.
Spatial awareness- A study in Mind, Brain and Education indicated that playing with blocks helps children to understand spatial concepts such as over, around and through.
Concentration- Block play often lengthens a child's ability to concentrate. When children have a design in mind and they are working hard to figure out how to make the blocks fit together or balance, it requires a great deal of concentration from them.
Math skills- Blocks give children the opportunity to have hands-on interactions with 3-D shapes. Block building also allows children to exercise their sorting and counting skills. They learn patterns and size differences too.
So now that you know some of the benefits of blocks, how do you choose which ones are best for your child (ren)? As always, you want to keep in mind safety and choking hazards. For example, you'll want to save the legos until your child is no longer mouthing toys and has the fine motor skills to manipulate them. Luckily, there is no shortage of blocks to choose from. I recommend having a variety of blocks available to children at all times.
1. Start with a set of these blocks from Green Toys. These are great for infancy through the elementary years. They can be mouthed, washed, and best of all, they are Eco-friendly.
2. Wood Blocks are a must-have. Connecting with natural materials is something we strongly advocate for as it is important for sensory development. We love these hollow blocks from Plan Toys.
3. Non-traditional blocks like these rock stacking blocks are another great addition to your rock repertoire.
4. These foam Gorilla Blocks are perfect for building outside. They are non-toxic, weatherproof and recyclable.
We'd love to hear about your favorite blocks and/or ways to use blocks with your children! Share in the comments below.
Happy Building!