First grade students are building with wooden blocks after they checked out their books in the library.
But whatever form they take, blocks can function as powerful learning tools. Studies suggest that toy blocks can help children develop
- motor skills and hand-eye coordination,
- spatial reasoning,
- cognitive flexibility,
- language skills,
- a capacity for creative, divergent thinking,
- social competence, and
- engineering skills.
There is also evidence that complex block-play is linked with higher mathematical achievement.
Research suggests that kids benefit when construction play incorporates additional elements, including:
- building from templates,
- engaging in cooperative projects, and
- talking with others about spatial relationships.
