Benefits of Blocks

These are the major concepts children can learn from playing with colored blocks:

Constructing, Designing, Comparing, Building, Transporting, Classifying, Adding, Subtracting, Ordering, Apportioning, Originating, Measuring, Restructuring, Balancing, Sorting, Dividing, 
Multiplying, Arranging

Colored blocks have lasting value:

6-8 months: grasps, mouths, and release blocks. Develops hand/mouth and hand/eye coordination and sensation of squareness. Bangs blocks together, transfers block from one hand to the other

8 months to 1 year – Often drops blocks and will look for them on the floor. Plays hide and seek with blocks (object permanence)

1 – 2 years – Loves piling blocks and dumping from a container, carries blocks across the room, pushes and pulls blocks as the  child develops mobility. Holds blocks with thumbs/fingertips rather than in palm.

2 – 3 years – can imitate (not copy) a three block train or two-block tower, demonstrating sequencing and integration of visual perceptual skills.

3 -4 years old – With emerging imagination,  a child creates a variety of original structures and designs. Shares and wait their turn.

4-5 years – With more confidence and purposefulness, a child creates a building plan and shows great satisfaction in results.Will persevere even if tower topples or the plan is unsuccessful.

5 years old – Can accurately count ten blocks and copy or create three-dimensional complicated buildings in both vertical and horizontal planes. Usually uses both hands, with preferred hand leading and the other helping (emerging hand dominance and accommodation).

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