Take a bag of blocks and dump them out at your child’s feet. Soon they will become a castle, a robot, a rocket or a road. Only your child knows the next adventure those blocks will go on. Though it may seem like your child is just playing and having fun, he is actually learning while he plays.
Building is a great way to stimulate logic, grow the imagination, develop spatial reasoning skills and teach problem solving. Plus, it is fun! Construction and building toys are necessary to unlock the imagination and encourage creativity.
When a child has abstract toys, he is in control. Construction toys range from blocks to cardboard bricks to magnets. It is up to your child to see what these toys can become. When something does not work right the first time, he is learning and developing reasoning skills while he figures out why. As a parent, it is tempting to jump in and show your child what is wrong and do it for him. The best thing you can do is stand back and only help if he asks you. Help him find the answer on his own, rather then show him how something needs to be done.
Choosing age-appropriate toys is very important. You do not want to buy your child something that is too difficult, because it will frustrate him. On the other side, the toy needs to be challenging so your child is not bored. The great thing about construction toys such as blocks is they cover a wide variety of ages. When picking out your toys, keep their skills and interests in mind. Do pay attention to the age recommendations. You may see a toy that looks perfect for your two-year-old but says three and up. This toy most likely contains small parts which can become choking hazards.
For toddlers, construction toys teach a child how to manipulate items. In the beginning, your baby considers it a great accomplishment to stack two blocks on top of each other, or even just to bang the blocks together and make a noise. As his skills develop, so will his towers. He is learning hand-eye-coordination. Pegboards and nesting cups are other great toys for toddlers.
As a child grows older, so does his understanding of concepts such as gravity and balance. These concepts can be learned through simple blocks. When you put a larger block on a smaller block, it may fall off. The blocks need to be perfectly balanced.
A preschooler is also happy to play with blocks, but will also move on to larger interlocking blocks. Interlocking blocks hold together and do not fall over as easy, making building easier and encouraging self-esteem. A frustrated child may give up and refuse to try the task later. If you see your child is frustrated with a toy, start him on another project and put the toy away until later when you think he is ready.
Giant cardboard bricks are also good because they are easy to manipulate and your child can create structures that will let his imagination go wild. When your child builds together with other children, you are encouraging social skills, and preparing him for school.
Other great building toys for children this age include paper cups and smaller locking blocks for children ages three and up. However, do remember to look at the age recommendations. A four-year-old will be frustrated trying to build a space station.
For older children, construction toys can become major projects. The more complex the “project” is, the more thought and preplanning need to go into play. Many parents feel that their older children are too old for toys. Taking away toys is doing them a disservice. You are never too old to play. There are many construction toys out there designed for older children, including models and Lego sets. Geomag is a newer construction toy consisting of magnets and rods that puts a different spin on building. Marble mazes are also wonderful for developing reason skills and teaching about gravity.
When picking out construction toys for older children, keep their interests in mind. If your child is into racing, buy them model cars. Other themes you will find include space, robots or movies. Even some adults can spend hours playing with construction toys.
Construction toys offer a great opportunity to learn and have fun. Don’t be afraid to join your child in his world. You are never too old to play. Happy building!
