Q: Why is block play important?
A: It has over 170 years of history as it has been proven to be the most effective and efficient learning tool for children's all-round development. Each block has its own identity: the size, weight and texture are all made for educational purposes.
Kindergartens and primary schools both use blocks as their admission interviews to test children's communication, interactive and logical skills. In the block area, children can learn to cooperate with others through their physical, intellectual, and social development. Children also develop problem-solving skills, which is an essential element to any type of learning in the future.
The expressive and developmental opportunities offered by blocks are limitless. Block play can be defined as “open-ended, self-chosen, enjoyable actions and activities that unite and integrate cognitive, language, social, emotional, and motor aspects of learning within rich, culturally sensitive, child-centered, and supportive contexts”
Isn’t color blocks more attractive? Why is colorless block with no studs better for children?
A: The use of colorless blocks provides opportunities for children to create and innovate. The outcome of learning from colorless blocks is rich and unlimited. For instance, a green triangle block may be identified by a child as a green tree whereas a colorless triangle can be associated with an array of entirely different objects like a roof top, sandwich, a truck. There can be no doubt that colorless block helps stretch children’s imagination.
The reason why block does not have studs is simple: it creates an open-ended learning possibility. In the child’s world of learning, there should not be just always one definite answer to a question. Block helps children to think outside the box.
Q: Can children of all developmental levels benefit from block play?
A: Yes, definitely. Block play is attractive and pleasurable to children from infancy onward. Blocks are easily adaptable to children’s individual developmental levels, learning styles, and to their interests and needs. Two-year-olds can know the gratification of success in creating stacks of blocks, just as five-year-olds can enjoy building complex structures and leadership skills.
Q: Which developmental areas are developed through block play?
A: Specifically, block play builds conceptual thinking in the areas of whole relationships, comparison of size and quantity, and shapes and numbers. Block play further contributes to cognitive development by developing sorting and classification skills, pattern recognition, empirical thinking, and problem-solving skills. They develop self-esteem and a sense of personal competence. Children whom lack communication skills, speech and language incompetency, and fear of public speaking will benefit immensely from playing blocks.
The value of block play
Block can be used to teach Language, Mathematics, Science and Music both efficiently and effectively. It creates a fun and relaxing environment to engage children in block play activities and stimulate children's creativity, leadership skills and individuality. While the other skills, including social, communication and conversational skills could also be developed through block teaching and learning.
To Truly understand Block Play, come to Block-a-lot to experience it yourself today!
More researches on Blocking:
“Booth. E & Miller. K - Learning through play blocks”
“Willey. J & Sons Inc - Playthings as learning tools: A parental guide”
“Ingrid Chalufour and Karen Worth - Building Structures with young children”
“Dr. Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, & Dr. Roberta Michnick Golinkoff - Einstein Never Used Flash Cards”
“Gene I. Maeroff - Building Blocks Making Children Successful in the Early Years of School”
“Abilgail Newburger & Elizabeth Vaughan - Teaching Numeracy, Language, and Literacy with Blocks”
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