02/05/2023
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I thought this was fascinating information about the way that play with blocks typically develops!
As with most forms of play, there are no hard and fast rules about what age children will do this. Some children will never be interested in blocks at all, or only for a brief and intense period of time. Some children will be interested in building with blocks for months or years, or keep returning to it as an interest that grows and grows with their new skills they develop. Some children may stop at a particular stage and not go much further, or appear to go back to an older stage for a time.
Image description: A chart titled “Developmental stages of block play.” The chart is transcribed below.
Stage 1 is listed as “carrying”. There is a picture of a pile of loose wooden blocks. In this stage, blocks are carried around, not used for construction. They explore them using their senses (touch, sight, taste). They may also hit them together to explore sound. They explore dumping them in piles from containers.
Stage 2 is listed as “stacking”. There is a picture of two blocks stacked, and three blocks lined up. In this stage, building begins. Children stack the blocks either vertically (towers) or horizontally (rows).
Stage 3 is listed as “bridging”. There is a picture of simple bridges built where there are two blocks and one block spanning them. In this stage, children lay a base block, place an upright block at both ends of it, then attempt to bridge the structure with a block the same length as the base block.
Stage 4 is listed as “enclosures”. There is a picture of a square made out of straight blocks. This stage occurs soon after a child begins to use blocks regularly. They need cognitive understanding of spatial orientation, or knowing which direction to turn the blocks. They may continue to place blocks end to end, which ends up creating roads. They begin with 4 blocks (i.e., to make a square) and evetually move to circle/ovals and joined enclosures.
Stage 5 is listed as “Patterns and Symmetry”. There is a picture of a structure that looks more like a castle or elaborate building made of the blocks. If a child has good fine motor skills, that allows this stage to happen faster. Children can become more imaginative, use more blocks, be more intentional in their selection of kinds of blocks, incorporate patterns and balance, and they may or may not name the building they have built.
Stage 6 is listed as “early representation”. There is a picture of a very specific building of blocks. In this stage, children name the structure, and the name reflects the purpose of the building, with names relating to the function of the building. Dramatic play often begins alongside this stage, because the block building basics have been mastered and now they begin to use their blocks as a tool for dramatic play.
Stage 7 is listed as “later representation”. There is another picture of a specific diorama built out of blocks. In this stage, the blocks represent actual structures children know from real life or stories. Naming the structures becomes more common. Buildings are created to symbolize familiar structures. The design elements become more intricate and represent actual details. They will create their own accessories to support their play.
