We offer a range of monthly activities designed to meet each child's developmental needs while aligning with our Project Approach Model. Parents are encouraged to check our social media page for monthly activity updates, including all the necessary participation materials. We also encourage parents to share their experiences by posting on our social media page.
 

Infant Block Play

 

Infant block play requires accuracy. The baby’s large, relatively uncontrolled movements are practiced to strengthen the baby’s muscles through play. Infant block play may include:

• grasping blocks

• mouthing blocks

• filling small containers with blocks and dumping them out

• banging blocks on the table of other toys

• banging blocks together

Toddler Block Play

Toddler block play requires increased accuracy and a fair amount of dexterity. What may look like “just play” for a toddler is a practice in using the smaller muscles of the hand and arm while accomplishing a set of tasks. Examples of how toddlers develop fine motor skills through block play may include:

• stacking blocks in towers

• knocking down towers

• arranging blocks in rows

• arranging blocks on lines, like going with the grain of wood on the kitchen floor

• crashing toy cars or horses to knock down a tower or wall

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Preschooler Block Play

By preschool age, most children have enough dexterity and accuracy to begin to build more intricate structures. They may also build with more intention and exhibit more purpose in their play. This is because preschoolers have mastered the pincher grasp and their fine motor muscles are so much stronger even though they are still developing. Block play that can improve a preschooler’s fine motor skills might include:

• stack tall towers, sometimes even as tall as their height

• build walls

• build bridges

• build castles, houses, and other buildings

• organize blocks for other play purposes, like laying them out for a road or race track

Tips for Encouraging Block Play

With all the “sophisticated” toys on the market that flash, make noise, and have many buttons to push, blocks don’t always interest children initially. To encourage block play at your home or preschool, consider some of the following:

• Set up a functional area for block play. (We don’t have a wood floor in our playroom, so I laid down an office mat to give the blocks more solid flooring.)

• Offer a variety of blocks made from different materials and of various colors and sizes. Try foam blocks, Duplo blocks, large cardboard blocks, traditional wooden blocks, and small (non-clickable) cubes).

• Offer props to enhance the block area, such as peg people, wooden spools, eggs, or balls.

• Offer other toys, such as cars or animal figurines, that pair naturally with block play and lend themselves to pretend play.

•  Provide pictures of real-life structures to copy.

• Sit on the floor and build with your child. Use this opportunity to model building and pretend play and to encourage conversation.

• When possible, allow built structures to remain untouched instead of putting things away after use. Often, children are self-motivated to return to their structures to continue working.

Playing with blocks can be an excellent way for children to develop and strengthen fine motor skills. While that is never a child’s intention, having a fun and inviting block area is a great benefit.

I am always amazed and intrigued by my children’s creativity while playing with blocks. I appreciate how the delicate motor aspect of block play benefits my baby and my three other older children.