What Is Block Play Early Years?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Block play requires fine and gross motor skills . Blocks enhance children's problem-solving abilities, mathematics skills, and language and literacy abilities. And constructing “creations” builds selfesteem and feelings of success.

What is a block play?

Block play is the process of learning through playing with blocks . It's a form of Open-Ended Play, which means there are no set rules and children are fully in control.

What type of play is block play?

Blocks are open-ended play materials ; there is no right or wrong way to build with them. Sometimes children start with an idea of what they want to make, at other times, the three dimensional design grows as children place blocks together randomly or in patterns.

What are the stages of block play?

  • Stage 1: Carrying, Exploring or Prebuilding. ...
  • Stage 2: Stacking, Rows and Towers or Repetition. ...
  • Stage 3: Bridges and Passageways. ...
  • Stage 4: Enclosures. ...
  • Stage 5: Symmetry and Patterns. ...
  • Stage 6: Early Representational, Functional and Naming of Structures.

What does playing with blocks teach?

physical development – Block play promotes the development of spatial awareness and develops hand-eye coordination as children reach for, lift, move and build with blocks, strengthening their fingers, hands and arms.

Is building with blocks fine or gross motor?

Stacking blocks or building blocks is a fine motor skill ; when children are doing this, they are developing and refining their skills and senses. If you are able to add different colors, this is a good way to add extra development to their activity and skills.

What do toddlers learn from stacking blocks?

Your toddler will enjoy stacking a tower of blocks as high as possible and then watching what happens when they knock them down. This is one way that toddlers develop fine motor skills and explore concepts like early math, geometry, problem-solving, and cause and effect.

What are the benefits of pretend play?

  • To encourage imagination and creativity: Builds a child's ability for flexibility and then creativity. ...
  • Supports social and emotional development: ...
  • Improves language and communication skills: ...
  • Develops thinking, learning, and problem-solving abilities: ...
  • Enhances physical development:

Are building blocks cognitive?

Your block center is the ideal place for in play. ... The benefits of building with blocks are numerous; in addition to developing your toddler's cognitive abilities, playing with blocks increases skills in the following areas, social-emotional, language, creativity, physical, and motor.

What are the 7 stages of development?

There are seven stages a human moves through during his or her life span. These stages include infancy, early childhood, middle childhood, adolescence, early adulthood, middle adulthood and old age .

How do wooden blocks help child development?

“Playing with blocks helps children develop their vocabularies , improves math skills, and even teaches them about gravity, balance, and geometry. ... Building is all about size, shape, weight, leverage, and balance, and as your child works this out, their building and block play will become more and more complex.

How do you improve block play?

  1. Snap photos of your child's block building on your phone. ...
  2. Hang the photos around the block area to inspire your child.
  3. Add a small basket of people and a small basket of cars to the block area.

What do kids learn from building blocks?

Blocks help children learn to take turns and share materials , develop new friendships, become self-reliant, increase attention span, cooperate with others, and develop self-esteem. — Kathleen Harris. Development in all areas. ... And constructing “creations” builds selfesteem and feelings of success.

How do you play with building blocks?

Place the blocks in front of you and begin stacking them on top of each other . You can encourage your child to knock the blocks down so you can start over. As your baby will grow more confident, they will initiate their own block towers.

What is a block area?

Block area materials include all kinds of things to build with, put together and take apart, fill and empty, and pretend with . When space permits, the block area also includes materials children can test their strength against, such as logs, tree-stump rounds, and a real gate.

David Martineau
Author
David Martineau
David is an interior designer and home improvement expert. With a degree in architecture, David has worked on various renovation projects and has written for several home and garden publications. David's expertise in decorating, renovation, and repair will help you create your dream home.