All About Blocks
These versatile toys are rich in learning benefits, making them a classroom and family favorite.
Constructing with blocks helps build math, science, social, and literacy skills.
Have you ever wondered why blocks are such an important part of any good early childhood classroom? Or why your child seems to like playing with them so much? Perhaps it is the simplicity of their design and the multiplicity of their uses that makes blocks a perennial favorite with preschoolers. Even more important, blocks represent a microcosm of life: Your child can use them to construct his own understanding about how things work, and even how life works. Little wonder that the block area is where math, science, literacy, and social skills come alive in a variety of fun, yet meaningful learning experiences.
The Science of Blocks
The Math of Blocks
The Language of Blocks
The Social World of Blocks
The Science of Blocks
When your child plays with blocks, building replicas of the world around her, she is like a little scientist, experimenting with balance, structure, space, and even gravity! Have you ever watched your child attempt to build a simple tower, only to have it fall down at a particular height? Perhaps you have noticed that she tried different ways of placing the blocks until finally she created a tower that stayed up! Amazingly, what she is doing is using the scientific method of experimentation, observation, and cause-and-effect to solve the problem of the tumbling tower. In the process, she experiences first-hand the effect of gravity. She quickly learns that a block that is supported and equally balanced will not be pulled down. Of course, she is not using these fancy words for what she is doing — she thinks she is just having fun building stuff and then knocking it down. But in truth, your child is using scientific thinking and gaining valuable problem-solving experience that will help her understand these science concepts when she meets them in grade school.
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The Math of Blocks
Given the many shapes that blocks come in, they are the perfect tool for hands-on learning about basic math concepts: shape, size, area, geometry, measurement, and equivalencies. While playing with blocks, your child may naturally begin to sort them by a particular attribute, such as shape or size. He may notice that long rectangle blocks make much better bases than the triangular ones, or that curved blocks need to lie flat on the floor. This exploration into the nature of shapes prepares your child for later geometric understanding. You may also notice that your child enjoys making long lines of blocks. This is an important first step in grasping the concept of measurement. Children often delight when they notice that things are the same length. For example, "Look, my blocks are as long as the couch!" This would be the perfect time to ask your child, "Do you think you are the same size as your line of blocks? Can you lay next to it to see?" By asking a "next step" question, you extend the learning by asking your child to apply what he has learned from the first measurement of the couch to a new object — himself!
At-home play: A fun way to explore the concept of area is to ask your child to fill the bottom of a box or a taped square on the floor with blocks. The trick is to figure out how to get as many as possible into the area without too many spaces or pieces hanging over the edge. It turns the blocks into a giant jigsaw puzzle!
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The Language of Blocks
Block play is an effortless way to get children to practice language skills simply because there is so much to talk about! Many children like to describe what they're building, or they narrate as they go along. Some young builders talk to themselves as they try new things. This makes the block area a prime place for your child to experiment with open-ended questions such as, "What might happen if…" and "How many ways can you…"; Just by presenting a question, idea, or new prop, you can inspire your child for hours of constructive play.
Another reason blocks provide such a language-rich environment is because of the pretend play that often goes along with them. Preschoolers are wonderful at using simple blocks to represent characters, or to create a set so that they can recreate a favorite story or experience (going to the beach with mom and dad) over and over again. This is an essential part of literacy learning because it helps your child understand the sequence of storytelling as well as the roles and voice of characters — elements your child will use when it comes time to read and enjoy books.
At-home play: Give each of your children (or kids in your playgroup) the same number of blocks. Challenge them to create their own (and different) structures. Once finished, ask each child to talk about what she made. How is it different from the others? Later, you can even invite the kids to work together to connect the structures and make one BIG block creation.
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The Social World of Blocks
Of course, the "pretend play" aspect of block-building also supports the development of emotional and social skills. In an early childhood classroom, the block area is an active social center that encourages children to share, take turns, listen, and communicate. While blocks can be a solitary activity, in most classrooms they are the place where children congregate. Even in your own home you may notice that when you bring out the blocks, everyone wants to join in the fun! Perhaps it is the open-ended nature of blocks that makes them so good for practicing a variety of social skills. There is no one "right" way to build with them, thus requiring children to work creatively together to decide how to use them. Collective building encourages your child to learn how to politely ask a classmate for a block, to share the ones she has, and to express her opinions or ideas about a structure. Just as important, she learns how to ask for help. These are all skills that will support her throughout her life at home and in school.
If you are considering the next toy purchase for your preschooler, think about a set of blocks. They don't talk, play music or light up. Instead they teach a variety of basic skills of life and learning in a creative, thought-provoking approach. Blocks don't require batteries — just add kids and watch them go!
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Ellen Booth Church is a former professor of early childhood education, an education consultant and author.
