Nursery World - A parent's guide to block play

You probably expect to see a set of building blocks in your child's pre-school or reception class. You might even remember playing with something similar yourself. They've been around for a very long time. So why are they so important in education? Importance of block play

Importance of block play

Blocks help children develop spatial awareness. They help them to build 'mental maps' of spaces around them. They are comfortable to hold and manipulate and they can be constantly re-arranged. There is no right way to build with them, and this 'open-endedness' encourages children to be creative and to think for themselves. While playing, children can increase their awareness of shape, pattern, symmetry or number. They are also problem-solving, using their imagination and, if they are allowed to play without interruptions, they are developing concentration skills and the learning disposition to persevere.

Block play can tell us a lot about how our children are thinking and what fascinates and interests them. Educationalists call these patterns of actions 'schemas', and they help to identify how to move learning forward.

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