Some toys are more than just entertainment. Some of them are great learning tools as well. Toy blocks are among these toys that have been proven to have educational benefits. It may not be often used in traditional schools but homeschoolers will have plenty of time for playing with toy blocks.
I bought a Mega Bloks First Builders
For preschoolers, I love the basic set of Mega Bloks First Builders
Here are 7 benefits of playing with toy blocks and 7 reasons you should get one for your homeschooling kid.
1. Math Concepts. As is, toy blocks encourages children to count, sort and match. Even if you don’t start building yet, you there are a lot of possibilities for learning. You can sort the colors, count them together or match the same shapes. These are important preschool and kindergarten skills. Older kids get to know about balance, gravity and geometric shapes.
2. Spatial Skills. This is a category of reasoning skills that let’s children think of objects in three dimensions. People with good spatial skills allows them to solve object puzzles like tangrams and Rubik’s cubes. For children, this skill help them assess if a block can fit in, or if a set of blocks can create a new shape.
3. Divergent Problem Solving Skills. Unlike convergent problems which have only one correct solution, divergent problems can have multiple solutions. Kids who are exposed to toy blocks perform better in divergent problems. They also showed more creativity in solving problems. Divergent thinkers can find several uses for a single object. Remember the 80s TV series, McGuyver? He’s got some really good divergent problem solving skills. Know more about covergent and divergent thinking.
Daddy Tip: If you will encounter parts that is not available, don’t stop. Instead, show the child other ways to make and substitute that part with other blocks.
4. Creativity. This skill is pretty obvious. Kids who are adept with toy blocks tend to be creative. There are no limits on what you can build with toy blocks. Thus, children are free to make their own designs and explore possibilities.
5. Language Skills. This skill doesn’t look obvious but a study sponsored by Mega Bloks says that playing with toy blocks may lead to improved language development in middle- and low-income children. This could be because playing with toy blocks encourages communication between the child and an adult.
Daddy Tip: After the play, ask your kid to retell what he has built and to create stories with the toy blocks.
Gab creating a story of the reindeer eating the apple.
6. Social Skills. There is plenty of opportunities to socialize with adults or other kids when playing with toy blocks. Encourage your child to ask for help, to share the parts, and to cooperate to built a bigger project.
7. Responsibility. Since each block plays an important role in building, children learn to be responsible in handling them. They tend not to loose the toy blocks and they are happy to clean up after each play.
Are you playing with toy blocks as well? Share your stories and tips with us at the comments below.
Check out these toy blocks and brick sets at Amazon.com.
