Toy blocks may not be the current craze when it comes to toddler toys. These unassuming playthings never really caught up as an actual trend as far as choosing toys for little ones was concerned. Some may have even considered it as ‘not special enough’ as a gift for little ones.
This article is about to give that misconception a boot, as toy blocks are indeed the most useful tools for imaginative play as well as cognitive development.
While there may be images of either colorful plastic or wooden cubes in our minds when we hear the term toy blocks, there are lots of different types of blocks. There are soft blocks for infants; blocks that are suitable for outdoor play; table blocks; hollow blocks; large blocks; mini blocks and blocks made of foam. There are also toy building blocks that can be manipulated like Duplo and Lego blocks.
Toy blocks have significant overall benefits for growing minds. Not only are they fun and exciting, but they help kids develop a wide variety of skills and abilities, even physical. Here are some benefits of adding block play into a toddler’s life.
Builds better motor skills
While playing with a set of toy blocks, children will try their best to place them in a position so that they do not topple over. By means of trial and error, their hand-eye coordination improves with practice, although it may look clumsy at first. Sometimes it may not even seem like a child is paying attention to the task. On the contrary, though, the mere grasping of the blocks itself serves as good practice for gripping objects, strengthening those little fingers and hands.
Mentally challenging
A good set of toy blocks allows a child to learn how to think logically, and this is crucial for a young child’s development. After a few tries at building something and watching the blocks topple over, children will eventually figure out that the blocks have to be arranged and placed properly to prevent that from happening. An older child will also begin to realize (or maybe taught) that a stronger base, built with more blocks at the bottom, will prevent the structure from toppling over.
With toy blocks, it’s a play and learns concept all the way. Language skills are also subsequently honed when children learn the names of the colors, shapes, and sizes of the toy blocks.
Toy blocks and maths skills
Mathematical skills are sharpened when a child learns to add up or subtract the number of building blocks required to build a structure.
Proven! Playing with toy blocks help promote spatial skills
There have been numerous studies to test the links that exist between spatial skills and construction play. In one such study(1) it was discovered that children who showed more interest in construction not only managed to build more sophisticated structures from the toy blocks given, but they also seemed to have performed better on a standardized test of spatial intelligence. In another study, a group of kindergartners was randomly assigned to engage in guided construction play, after which they outperformed their peers on tests of spatial visualization, mental rotation, and block building(2).
Are toy blocks and puzzle pieces the same?
Not and when it comes to problem-solving skills, playing with toy blocks seems to give kids an upper hand.
Firstly, as explained by psychologists, there are two major types of problems, and they are convergent problems that have only one correct solution and divergent problems which can be solved in multiple ways.
In one experiment(3), researchers presented preschoolers with two types of play materials (Pepler and Ross 1981). Several children received puzzle pieces for convergent play while others got chunky block-like foam for divergent play. After some time of playing, both groups of children were tested on their ability to solve problems.
The results revealed that children who played with blocks performed better on divergent problems. They also showed more creativity in their attempts to solve the problems. (4) Because kids can put together blocks in a variety of ways, block play is divergent play. And divergent play with blocks may prepare kids to think creatively and better solve divergent problems.
Cooperation and responsibility?
Yes, for they are after all, the possible byproducts of play with toys in general…
Children learn cooperation and sharing as they work together with adults and other children during their playtime. After they’re done, they can be taught the responsibility of tidying up and keeping the blocks back.
Encourage and participate!
Children love parent participation and even playing with blocks can be an opportunity to teach, bond, and discover! Like every other aspect of play, children benefit more from block play when someone who knows better shows them some tricks and tips on how to use the toy blocks in more creative ways.
The link between block play and language development
In an old study by Mega Bloks, researchers gave blocks to middle- and low-income toddlers between one and a half to two and a half years old and randomly assigned them to receive one of two treatments(5):
- Kids in the treatment group got two sets of toy Mega Bloks — 80 plastic interlocking blocks and a set of specialty blocks, including cars and people — at the beginning of the study. The parents of these toddlers were given instructions for encouraging block play.
- Kids in the control group did not get blocks until the end of the study. The parents of these kids received no instructions about block play.
Parents in both groups were asked to keep time diaries of their children’s activities. Parents weren’t told the real purpose of the study. After six months it was found through an interview with their parents that the kids in the group assigned to play with blocks scored higher on parent-reported tests of vocabulary, grammar, and verbal comprehension while showing a non-significant trend towards watching less television.
Toy blocks may fuel the imagination
Building toys allow children to create their fantasy worlds and stories. Using imagination boosts cognitive, academic, language, and social growth.
Builds confidence
Whether a child has a knack for toy block or not, once that masterpiece is finished and due praise is given for his or her efforts, it increases the child’s self-confidence. This boosts their self-esteem and encourages them to try out other tasks and challenges.
References:
- Caldera YM, Culp AM, O’Brien M, Truglio RT, Alvarez M, and Huston AC. 1999. Children’s Play Preferences, Construction Play with Blocks, and Visual-spatial Skills: Are they Related? International Journal of Behavioral Development; 23 (4): 855-872
- Casey BM, Andrews N, Schindler H, Kersh JE, Samper A and Copley J. 2008. The development of spatial skills through interventions involving block building activities. Cognition and Instruction (26): 269-309
- Pepler DJ and Ross HS. 1981. The effects of play on convergent and divergent problem-solving. Child Development 52(4): 1202-1210
- Pepler DJ and Ross HS. 1981. The effects of play on convergent and divergent problem-solving. Child Development 52(4): 1202-1210
- Christakis DA, Zimmerman FJ, and Garrison MM. 2007. Effect of block play on language acquisition and attention in toddlers: a pilot randomized controlled trial. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 161(10):967-71
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