Building blocks are a classic toy that children have enjoyed for generations.
In our house, they have been our favorite toys for years! Simple yet versatile, they can be used to create different structures, from simple towers to elaborate castles. But did you know that building blocks are also good for your child's development?
Children's development
Fine motor skills:
Blocks are a great way for children to develop their fine motor skills. Picking up, holding, and stacking blocks requires children to use the small muscles in their hands and fingers.
Problem-solving skills:
Building with blocks requires children to think ahead and solve problems. They have to figure out how to balance the blocks, how to make them stay together, and how to create the structure they want.
Spatial reasoning skills:
Building blocks help children develop spatial reasoning skills, such as understanding and visualizing shapes and sizes.
Creativity and imagination:
Blocks allow children to express their creativity and imagination. They can build anything they can think of, from simple towers to elaborate castles, roads, cages to animals, etc.
Social-emotional skills:
Building blocks can also help children develop social-emotional skills, such as cooperation, teamwork, and communication.
Now we know all the benefits of building blocks, but what can we play with them?
Our favorite game at home is free play. When the child was younger, she loved building houses for her animals, people, etc. with just single blocks. Now the play has evolved and she builds bigger structures or roads for her cars. If she has the time, peace, and quiet, she can almost build an entire city with her building blocks.
In addition to free play, where the only limit is the child's imagination, there are many games you can play with your child that are also educational.
5 educational games with building blocks
Sorting.
This game is great for young children who are learning about colors. Give your child a set of blocks in different colors and ask them to sort them into different piles. You can also make this game more challenging by asking them to sort the blocks into patterns, such as red-yellow-blue.
Shape matching.
This game is another great way for young children to learn about shapes. Give your child a set of blocks in different shapes and ask them to match the shapes together. You can also make this game more challenging by asking them to match the blocks by size or color.
Building towers.
Building Towers is a classic block game that is fun for children of all ages. To play, give your child a set of blocks and ask them to build the tallest tower they can. You can also make this game more challenging by setting a timer or by limiting the number of blocks that your child can use.
Building bridges.
This game is a great way to teach children about engineering and spatial reasoning. To play, give your child a set of blocks and ask them to build a bridge that can span two objects, such as two chairs or two tables. You can also make this game more challenging by using different materials for the bridge deck, such as cardboard or paper towels.
Building with themes:
Another way to make building with blocks more fun is to choose a theme. For example, you could challenge your child to build a castle, a zoo, or a city.
These are just a few ideas for educational and fun games you can play with your children using building blocks. With their endless versatility, blocks are a toy that your children will enjoy for years to come.
What is your favorite games/activities with Building Blocks? Let’s share and get inspired together!
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