7 Stages of Block Play
|
Hey Reader! Have you ever watched a child carry blocks around the classroom and wondered, “Aren’t blocks for building? What is going on here?” Well…block play develops in stages, and every stage is an important part of learning (even the “carrying around” stage)! Knowing what to expect can help us provide the right materials, encouragement, and time for children to grow as builders. 1. Discover, Explore & Carry Children carry, touch, stack, and investigate blocks – sometime even with their mouths! They are learning about weight, shape, texture, and what blocks can do. 2. Stack & Make Rows Towers and simple rows begin to appear. Children are discovering balance, gravity, and cause and effect. 3. Bridge & Repeat Children begin experimenting with bridges—placing two blocks apart and connecting them with another block. Problem-solving starts to take center stage. 4. Enclose Children use several blocks to surround a space. They are beginning to understand inside, outside, boundaries, and space. 5. Create Patterns Patterns, symmetry, and balanced designs emerge. Children are discovering that they can create order and beauty with their structures. 6. Name & Pretend Suddenly, those blocks become something! A tower is a house. A few blocks become a bridge. Block play begins connecting with storytelling and dramatic play. 7. Represent the Real World Children build structures that represent familiar places and experiences. They may create a restaurant, fire station, school, or home—and invite friends to join their play. The Big TakeawayDon’t be too quick to decide that a child is “just stacking blocks.” They’re building more than structures—they’re building brains! As children move through these stages, they’re developing spatial awareness, problem-solving, creativity, language, fine-motor skills, and social skills. So give them time, space, plenty of blocks, and permission to build, knock down, try again, and imagine. You might be surprised by what they construct! Check out our printable – Tips for the Block Center – for more fun facts, activity ideas, and even a list of how many blocks you should keep in your block center based on age! Cheering you on this week! -Your ECCN team
|
