Benefits of Blocks in Early Childhood
Blocks is an open-ended manipulative that gives children limitless possibilities of exploration and variety of ways to use it. As children grows, they become creative in playing blocks that makes it a learning tool in their early years. Children may develop multiple areas of development such as cognitive, physical, social and emotional through exploration of blocks (Schreiber, Taylor 2013.
COGNITIVE
Miller mentioned in 2004 that playing with blocks help children develop construction skills, helping them to gain understanding about the function of objects and structures even before being able to verbalize it. In 1972, Bruner proposes that play also enhances children’s problem solving skills and suggests
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The article also emphasized that building complex structures will enhance children’s focus as it require balance, a steady-hand and eye-hand coordination.
MATH
When children play with blocks, their mathematical skills are being practiced (Hirsch, 1996). Through block play, important math concepts and skills are enhanced including length, measurement, comparison, number, estimation, symmetry and balance, counting, cause and effect, trial and error, patterns and grouping (JancettNurseries, Jode, Margaritondo2017).
Packing away blocks also involves math concepts such as sorting same and different shapes and organizing blocks according to its size (Henniger, 1987)
LANGUAGE In an article The Block Center in Child Care in 2015, it is said that the block area/corner can be a place where children can practice and acquire new vocabulary by using words to describe their constructions such as what type of buildings they made, shapes and structures. Children learn and practice their language skills when they are discussing what they are building with their peers (Margaritondo,
Children can greatly benefit from having chances to create connections to the real world in their play space, waiting for the fruit on the fruit trees to ripen or continuously checking to see if their seeds have sprouted all provide both connections to the real world ,as well as expanding developmental skills and knowledge. An ideal learning environment for children does not necessarily need to cost a lot of money to establish and maintain, using items found out the natural environment can often spark creativity and connections with children. Children don't need to always be surrounded by the newest and fanciest plastic toys, natural ideas such as wood blocks can but used instead of lego pieces or rocks for painting on, items such as those can be cheap easily found and yet still provide children with the same if not more developmental skills and learning. From young age children need to be presented with opportunities to take safe risks in order for them to grow and
As most preschoolers like clay modeling and building blocks, teachers can use them too. Make models of sphere or box. Instruct preschoolers to make a similar one in size, shape and color. Let them take their own time. Once they have finished the work show them a bit more complicated model and repeat the above activity. The same technique can be used with building blocks too.
When Albert Einstein stated that “play is the highest form of research,” I believe that from a child's perspective he could not have been anymore right. Through analyzing the play episodes of a four year old girl named Noelle, I was able to relate my observations to research and theory regarding the development and benefits of play that influence the social, emotional, and cognitive development of children. As children play they learn which helps them to progress and develop their minds and social skills. Play is one of the most influential exercises to progressively develop children.
An Article by Dr. Leong and Dr. Bodrova (2016) stated that play is beneficial to children’s learning especially when it reaches a certain degree of complexity. When they engage in play activities most of their early years, they learn to delay gratification and to prioritize their goals and actions. They also learn to consider the perspectives and needs of other people and to represent things significantly to regulate their behavior and actions in a cautious, intentional way.
A major question that is continuously being researched and observed is whether children’s play is beneficial to children’s development. While many scientists have proved that play is, in fact, helpful in the development of children, I want to research how the different types of play affect children’s development, specifically children that are transitioning from late infancy to toddlerhood. The four different types of play that I will focus on observing is exploratory and manipulative play, functional or relational play, social play routines and pretend play. Furthermore, I would observe the children’s agency during their play and the social structures that can prevent children from playing, thus, resulting in lack of development.
Children love toys. That is not new news. Some toys are for mere pleasure while others have learning content. Classic toys known as shape sorting toys offer not only entertainment for young minds but also help contribute to a child’s physical, emotional, social, and cognitive development. Shape sorters are a favorite among young children and infants. This is because they are challenging to the child, yet still fun. By figuring out how to drop each piece into its proper hole, kids learn to categorize and eventually name shapes (a skill they master around age two). Between fifteen and eighteen months, most kids will start to develop the hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills they need to be able to sort. Shape sorting toys are great aide to the development of a young child and many developmental theories can be applied to support the fact. (“Benefits Of Shape Sorter Toys”)
The recess project has become a well renowned program. The recess project's goal is to advocate structured play among today’s children. “Recess leaders help the older children on the playground become leaders themselves, guiding younger children as they learn how to juggle or make crafts or do Zumba, the dance like exercise regimen set to fast-paced music”(Paul Par 5) . This is important because recess leaders from the recess project felt the need to help the older children on the playground. Recess leaders proved that with guidance and structure the older children gain the responsibility to guide the younger children in complex activities. Structured play drives strategy and following directions because with structured play children are given a specific set of guidelines and rules. After receiving rules and guidelines it is then up to the child to go from there and play(Nelson Par 1). There are numerous activities involved with structured play. The varying activities teach children how to follow and understand directions. This also helps children complete tasks. Various structured activities include board games, puzzles, and arts and crafts(Nelson Par 3). Anyone who has ever dealt with a child or children know things may become very messy, what if there was a way children can be taught life skills such as cleaning? In fact that is what structured play can do. As children are
Phelps, P., & Hanline, M. (1999). Let's play blocks: Creating effective learning experiences for young children. Teaching Exceptional Children, 32(2), 62-7.
Isenberg, J. P., & Jalongo, M. R. (n.d.). Why is play important? Social and emotional development, physical development, creative development. In Creative thinking and arts-based learning preschool through fourth grade (2006 ed., pp. 53-55). Retrieved from http://www.education.com/ reference/article/importance-play--social-emotional/
Children have a natural inclination to play, alongside a natural instinct to learn and to be curious and inventive, which are characteristics of the human race in general. This quote taken from Janet Moyles is a good starting point for this essay. It is well known that children love to play. If a child were to be left to his/her own devices they would happily play and create new worlds anywhere they were left. It has been well documented and researched that children learn excellently through play. However they are not always given the opportunity to do so, instead being told to, ‘finish your work and then you can go play’. Obviously this is not always the case, but the fact that it is a common practice shows that we do not all fully appreciate the importance of play to children’s learning. This essay will attempt to show how children learn through play, making reference to current theory and practice. I will also give examples from my own first-hand experience of how children learn and develop as people through play.
Block centers can be found in most preschool classrooms. Block play has numerous benefits for children. Blocks offer opportunities for children to test hypotheses and build scientific reasoning, work together to create something amazing, learn to take turns and share materials, be creative, and problem solve as they use blocks to bring their ideas to life (Koralek, 2015). Unfortunately, blocks are often stacked on a shelving unit in an out-of-the-way corner making them unappealing and uninviting to children. As a result, many children seldom play with blocks.
Twinning one time took the time to build a two story box, alternating hands and making the pieces connect. Miller (2001) says block play develops an understanding of shape, size, number, and similarities and differences (pg. 151). His cognitive development grew as time went on and he is doing just as well as other kids his age, very similar to them in their
Provide a variety of materials and resources for children to explore, manipulate, and use, both in learning activities and in imaginative play.
Let 's start with a picture of children play with blocks, Lego, soccer, or drawing, etc.
Open-ended materials like water, sand and clay offer many different levels of difficulty and get children involved in using mathematical concepts to solve problems. Semi open ended materials such as blocks, beads and sticks are great instructional materials for children to grasp mathematical concepts concretely.