Problem-Solving through Block Play

Important life skills, such as cause and effect, problem solving, and working with others for a common goal are all developed and enhanced through block play. Because block play is an open-ended activity, it is up to your child to determine the outcome. As soon as your child can sit up, they can start building. It may be stacking and knocking the blocks down. As your child gets bigger, they may develop a more elaborate plan.  You can encourage block play by having the materials easily accessible – containers and boxes to build the structure, accessories like toy animals, cars, and people to add to the structure, and an open space to build.  Kids love it when you are on the floor building with them.  Have books or pictures nearby so your child can get an idea of what to build.  While on the floor, looking near the book, you can say, “It would be fun to build a ..” or “Should we build a tower or a house?”  Kids also love for their structure to stay up so let them decide when it comes down.  Some kids will knock it down immediately, and others will love to see it still standing, even after they wake
up from a nap.  ~Marena Mitchell, Speech-Language Pathologist