Building blocks and construction toys are a staple in the toy boxes of preschool age children, but do you know the benefits of block play for babies and toddlers?
The lessons associated with constructive play are plentiful, and will provide young children with a venue for creative thought, problem-solving, honing their motor skills, and fostering strong social development.
Here are some of the major skills that are learned by introducing block play at a young age:
Gross and Fine Motor Skills
While a child is shifting, scooting, crawling and stretching to complete their masterpiece, they are helping to strengthen their gross motor skills. Small muscle development in hands and fingers through constructive play will help to hone fine motor skills as your child pieces together interlocking blocks or adds blocks to their structure with increasing skill and precision.
Little hands can’t get enough of the stacking, toppling, spinning, balancing, wobbling, tilting, and wiggling Tobbles Neo. Check them out here . Great for babies and toddlers.
Spatial Reasoning
Construction toys provide understanding of how pieces fit together and encourages comprehension of differing directions, shapes and spaces. Through critical thinking about whether a piece will fit or form the shape they desire, a child will utilize and foster spatial reasoning.
Hand-Eye Coordination and Dexterity
During play, children are enhancing their hand-eye coordination by understanding how they control their hands and fingers as well as figuring out the connection between touch and sight. By picking up blocks and placing them onto a structure or by connecting interlocking pieces, children develop awareness of the relation between their eyes and their own movements.
The Stacking Wonder Blocks by Playgo are embossed on each side so the little ones can sort by numbers, patterns, and colours. The blocks encourage vocabulary recognition and hand-eye coordination, and are great for toddlers aged 18 months and up.
Problem Solving Skills
The trial-and-error nature of building blocks and other construction toys allows children to determine the best possible method in which to create their structure. As they erect their design and run into structural inadequacies, they will develop the ability to identify what is creating the problem in their structure, why it does not work, and how to modify their method.
Beginning Math and Science Skills
Children begin thinking about math when they are playing with blocks, even if they don’t know it. They count, compare size, name shapes, and combine two shapes to make another new shape. As they build, children will test hypotheses and begin building scientific reasoning skills.
You can shop for construction toys online, or if you're still not sure which toy would be right, visit your local store and ask one of our experts! We're here to help!
Sources: North Shore Pediatric Therapy and NAEYC
