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There is no question that children learn through play. In this age of technology and electronic learning, it is important that we still provide old-fashioned play opportunities. The way we can do this is by providing a variety of materials for children. A standard set of basic blocks is a good starting point.
Blocks do not need to be an expensive fancy set. Using even assorted cardboard boxes can teach a child some basics.
You might be surprised to learn that building blocks have been scientifically proven to build important skills. Keep reading to learn what the benefits are! Click To TweetIf you do not believe that children can learn a lot from playing with a set of blocks, I hope you read this and reconsider. This article will show you the many ways children learn through basic block play and what they are learning.
In this article, I am not going to be speaking about using Lego sets to build a specific thing following instructions. I am talking about basic blocks of various shapes. Something that is open-ended and leaves room for creativity and imagination.
Keep reading to how blocks are a creative learning tool.
Benefits of Building with Blocks
There are a lot of basic things children in the infant and toddler stage can learn from building with blocks. Here are a few important skills they learn.
Fine Motor Skills
They gain fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination every time they use their hands and fingers to build something. This may not sound like much, but it is huge in child development.
Creativity
They are learning self-expression as they use their imagination and creativity, knocking over and rebuilding creations. This also helps them develop self-esteem as they gain confidence in their builds.
Spatial Awareness
They are developing visual perception and spatial awareness every time they stack and balance blocks on top of each other. Distance, location, directions, shapes, and sizes all can be explored with this simple activity.
Cause and Effect
If your children are playing with plastic blocks, they quickly learn that these make noise. Banging plastic blocks together or knocking over tall towers can be hard on the ears. Kids learn this fast.
If you want something quieter, try foam building blocks like the Premium Joy 68 Piece Foam Building Blocks Set. They are non-toxic, durable, come in fun shapes and colors, and, most importantly, are quiet!
They are made of EVA foam, which is dense and soft to the touch. And, don’t worry – they are waterproof and clean easily too!
Problem Solving Skills
Kids develop problem-solving skills when they stack and balance the blocks without them falling over. Each time they make a tweak to help their creations stand tall, they have to analyze the situation and move forward with their best thought.
This back and forth process helps children be more independent.
School Concepts
Math and Science concepts like weight, balance, and stability are learned.
Toddlers and preschool children can learn shapes and colors when playing with blocks.
Older children can learn patterns as they are creating. During cooperative play, they are learning communication and social skills—benefiting physical, social, language, and cognitive development.
Fun ways to play with blocks
- To develop some gross motor skills, try making a pattern of blocks on the floor and try to balance as you walk on top of them.
- Talk to the child about what they are building and develop language and conversation skills.
- Playing a guessing game with them telling them to find the square or red triangle is a great game.
- If you have various sizes, you can also play bigger and smaller with the child choosing the bigger or smaller shape or color that you ask for.
- Use blocks as bowling pins and a foam ball as the bowling ball
- Line colored blocks up to create a rainbow.
- Have some designs drawn on a poster board and use the blocks like puzzle pieces to fill in the design.
- A similar idea is to have letters and numbers drawn and have the child match up the letters and numbers to the images.
- Make an obstacle course.
It is amazing what a kid can build with a variety of blocks, some space, and a few assorted cars, animals, and mini toys.
One minute they are learning to stack a few blocks together, and before long, they are building elaborate structures. Kids learn more from playing with blocks than most of us realize. Have fun!
Krystle Cook – the creator of Home Jobs by MOM – put her psychology degree on a shelf and dived into a pile of diapers and dishes instead. She is a wife and mother to two rambunctious boys, sweating it out in her Texas hometown. She loves cooking, DIY home projects, and family fun activities.
How to Quit Smoking When You Work From Home
“Every day is another chance to get stronger, to eat better, to live healthier, and to be the best version of you.”
Thank you for the information 😊
My kids always loved building with blocks while they were kids. Now our friends little ones love them too so I love buying them for them to use.
Blocks are a classic pastime for kids of all ages
Yes, the kids love to play with blocks. They like to build towers. Then they like to knock the towers down.
Yes! All kids love playing with blocks – boys and girls!
Yes, my niece loves building blocks, it helps her be creative. I would love these for her.
So glad to hear that your niece loves blocks!!
I would say out of all the toys available to my grandchildren, blocks are the most loved of all and allow so much creativity to discover. My children also enjoyed playing with blocks as well and were a big hit with them, me too!!
You can’t go wrong with blocks!
I loved playing with blocks when I was a child and they were always a huge hit with the children I babysat as I was a teenager. Now the kids love them. I like playing a little game with them where we each build something randomly without thought and try to imagine what it looks like. Sort of how you do with clouds.
That sounds like a super fun game to do with blocks. Great idea!
Building blocks are great fun and with lots of benefits! I would play with these blocks with my nephew. Thanks for the chance!
You sound like a fun aunt! I bet your nephew would love to play with these blocks with you 🙂
We love bulding things with blocks! We also enjoy legos as well.
Legos are probably the most popular type of block with all of their fun themes!
My grand daughter is just getting to the age where she’s grabbing and trying to put things together. These are amazing ideas to use with her.
These blocks are great for young kids – she would love them!
Building blocks that don’t make noise?!?!?! Sign me up!!! Need to get these for my granddaughter for CHristmas!
Blocks that don’t make noise when banged together is def a win!
My friend had a new grandbaby and I would like to give it to her. Trying to save some stuff up but it’s been hard so this is nice and very thoughtful. I appreciate ya.
These blocks would make a great gift for your friends grand baby!
My daughter loves to build! It’s a fun activity for us to do together too. It inspires creativity and so much more.
What kinds of things does your daughter build with blocks?
She makes buildings and vehicles and so many other things my mind would never be able to come up with.
That must be really fun to watch
My grand kids love building with blocks. We all sit for hours building our little towns with the grand kids.
Building towns with the grandkids sounds like lots of fun!
Those look like wonderful blocks. We love playing with blocks. It’s an easy and fun way for the children to learn and practice motor skills.
Very true – blocks are great for fine motor skills!
My daughter loves to play with blocks. It’s amazing how creative she can be!
Awesome! What does she build with blocks?
My children absolutely love playing with Legos and Lego Duplos, so I know they would love these!
Great to hear – we are big fans of Lego blocks too!
Oh how every kid loves a form of building blocks. In fact, for every baby shower I go to I always give a building block gift of some kind. I have never seen a child not like them.
You are right – kids love blocks!
My nephew loves playing with blocks, especially to build castles. Thanks for the chance to win.
Building block castles sounds like loads of fun!
My son loves to build with different blocks, he likes to build little buildings for his different toys and animals.
Your son sounds very creative. My youngest used to do the same thing 🙂
This set looks perfect for my nephew. I think he would enjoy building lots of things with it.
What kinds of things does your nephew like to build with blocks?
My daughter loves building blocks. She could play with them all day and never get bored.
So glad to hear your daughter enjoys building with blocks. It’s a great Outlet
My daughter loves building toys. Legos, Magnatiles, blocks, my old lincoln logs – anything like that.
Sounds like your daughter is a true block lover. I love that!
We have a slew of grandkids (26 so far), and these blocks are so awesome. They kids love them, and WE love them. No worried about blocks being tossed. No one will get hurt and nothing will get broken or damages. They will play with them for hours on end. Good clean fun imaginative play at its best!
Wow 26 grandkids! You need a lot of blocks to keep up with all of them
I wish all little ones had access to blocks. They are wonderful in teaching spatial awareness, balance, and so much more! I love the idea of using blocks as bowling pins or for size comparison. I don’t think I would have thought of those activities with them.
You are so right. All children should have access to blocks
i love building with blocks its a great eye hand coordination practice for small children. i also think it breeds creativity.
I agree with you — I think building with blocks does breed creativity
My great nieces and great nephew love using blocks to build things. My youngest great niece is only 2 years old so she can come up with some funny creations, lol 🙂
I bet your great-niece comes up with the best block creatures
My 2 granddaughters love to build with blocks with me! At least, the 5 y/o does. The 2 y/o loves to knock them down!
My boys used to love to build things with blocks only to knock them down. It’s half the fun sometimes lol!
yes my grandkids love blocks ,they get very creative they like rocket ships,,castles,,an dungeons
I would love to see a rocket ship built out of blocks!
I have known the benefits of kids who play with blocks. That’s why I bought them for my kids and grandkids. I really liked the way their little minds started constructing their castles and houses, and putting them in groups by color or numbers. They weren’t foam, but they were still fun. My one concern about foam blocks is that the kids might take bites out of them or R.I.P. them apart.
These foam blocks are really durable. I don’t believe they could tear them or bite chunks off but if they did they are non-toxic.
My kids and I do love playing with blocks together. They have a set of bristle blocks that are the favorites right now.
I haven’t heard of Bristle Blocks. What kind of blocks are those?
I’ve got two brand new great grand-babies and I know their parents would love getting this gift for them. Thanks for the try.
Congratulations on the new Great grandbabies! These blocks would definitely come in handy in the near future
I have a two year old goddaughter and a five year old grandson who absolutely love playing with all types of blocks and building cool creations when they come over for play time! I would truly love to win this and I thank you for the opportunity!
The kids in your family will love these blocks!
My 5 year old and my 7 year old love playing with blocks. They actually often fight over their construction materials. Now that we are virtually learning, blocks come out a lot for work time.
Sounds like you need more blocks so the kids won’t fight over them
I would love to have the kids play with this in the tub!
These foam blocks do make great bath toys!
just the other day i was telling my daughter she need to get the baby some blocks
Sounds like these blocks would make a great Christmas present for your grandbaby
My kids love playing with ur foam building blocks! This allows them to use their imagination. Plus It’s so much better than them sitting in front of a screen.
Playing with blocks is a great way to have a break from screens
He’s little right now so he mostly just builds stacks. He’ll expand as he grows, I’m sure.
That’s cute — it’s always fun watching them play and think anyway!
Both of my kids love building with blocks. They have Legos, lincoln logs and several other various types of building blocks.
So glad your kids are huge block of lovers!
My 5 year old and 2 year old love playing with blocks. I think these would be nice because they cannot hurt each other with them! lol.
That’s very true — you know they are bound to throw the blocks at each other at some point lol
My kids would love these. Blocks are some of their favorite types of toys.
I’m so glad to hear your kiddos love blocks
Yes, my kids loved to play with blocks, and although it’s great fun (and learning from them), I hated them in the house. I would always end up stepping on one. They would also get thrown and someone would get hit, or something would get broken.
These foam blocks are AWESOME – just as much fun without the worry!!!!!
I know what you mean. Stepping on Legos is no fun!
These will keep the twins occupied for a while.I can only imagine the creations their little minds will produce.
Kids can come up with some of the most amazing things
My children and now my grandchildren all enjoy playing with blocks.
So happy to hear the kids in your family love playing with blocks
I always loved building with blocks and so its natural my son does to! One of the first little things we played together was blocks.
Awesome! I bet you and your son have a great time building things together
My 3 girls would spend hours building with wood block my Dad cut for them from left over wood and know the grandkids… the youngest would love adding the giveaway to the mix!
That’s so awesome that your dad made blocks for your kiddos. Things mean so much more when someone makes them
My kids will enjoy playing with these, but I would definitely let my two year old grandsons play with them when they come over, because they are always trying to take my son’s toys away from him. There are plenty of these to share.
That’s right. There are plenty of these blocks to share!