01/13/2023
Learning and Development
Block play – The benefits of manipulative play in early years
Written By:
Charlie Chewter
Subject:
Block play
Block play can boost children’s development like few other activities, as Charlie Chewter explains…
Block play offers an open-ended, creative and valuable play and learning experience available to every setting.
It offers children freedom – to explore, take apart and put back together any block-based creation they can think of.
There are a host of benefits to be gained from this activity. Here are ten aspects of learning that can expect a boost, many originally highlighted by the National Association for the Education of Young Children:
1. Imagination – Through block play children are free to follow their own ideas as they embark on a voyage of discovery or share in the development of their friends’ creations.
2. Self-expression – Children are able to express themselves through their play, creations and discoveries – a form of communication that’s particularly valuable for bilingual or non-verbal children.
3. Problem-solving – Blocks offer a great platform to develop problem-solving and reasoning skills. This can be deliberate, with children consciously working to develop a solution, or as a natural consequence of play, as they learn first-hand what does and doesn’t work.
4. Mathematics – Due to the many shapes, sizes and colours on offer, blocks offer ample opportunity for children to practise important maths skills, covering measurement, number, symmetry, balance and estimation. By comparing shapes and sizes, creating patterns or providing measuring and weighing tools, we can can extend play and exploration.
5. Physical development – Block play promotes the development of spatial awareness and develops hand-eye coordination as children reach for, lift, move and build with blocks, strengthening their fingers, hands and arms.
6. Creativity – Blocks are loose parts, meaning children are free to combine and re-combine them in countless ways. Add in alternative resources such as dough, small world characters or paint and pencils to further extend opportunities for creativity.
7. Science – Through the exploration of cause and effect and experimentation, children are able to develop their problem-solving skills, test hypotheses and practise scientific reasoning. Blocks help them to become familiar with balance, weight, spatial awareness and gravity.
8. Self-esteem – Children can take risks in their block play, helping them to discover that they have independent ideas. Children experience a sense of achievement as they ‘have a go’, creating and developing something new and unique.
9. PSED (personal, social and emotional development) – Block play allows children to co-construct and negotiate. They take turns, share materials and cooperate with others, forging new friendships. It also encourages self-reliance, increases attention span and develops sense of self.
10. Communication & literacy – As children encounter new experiences through block play, there are countless opportunities for discussion and the development of new vocabulary. Social interaction with adults and peers unlocks further benefits, while using blocks can support story creation and collaborative storytelling.
