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Growing Hands-On Kids

Growing Hands-On Kids

Child Development Tips, Tools, and Strategies

You are here: Home / Child Development / Fun Developmental Activities with Blocks

Fun Developmental Activities with Blocks

May 14, 2015 By Heather Greutman 4 Comments

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Affiliate and Referral links are used below to promote products I love and recommend. I receive a commission on any purchases made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details.

I love simple play items that pack a powerful punch when it comes to developmental skills and play. Developmental activities with blocks are a very simple way to work on a ton of skills with your young toddler or preschooler at home.

Fun and engaging developmental activities with blocks for toddlers and preschoolers. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

Who doesn't have wooden blocks in their home? And if you don't, definitely get some right away! They are so easy to find in the store or online and there are so many ways you can play with them. I love them!

Here are some great options from Amazon:


While the plastic building and stacking blocks are great too, you definitely want some good wooden ones as well. Wood offers so much more sensory input for your child; the texture, smell and grains in the wood are awesome added input.

So what kinds of developmental activities can you do with blocks? Keep reading to find out! 

Developmental Activities with Wooden Blocks

Before we get into the actual activities you can do, here is what I am basing these activities off of. In the Peabody Motor Assessment that Occupational Therapists use to see where your child is developmentally, there is a specific area just for block building under each age. Here are the age appropriate activities that you child can do:

  • Build a 4 block train at 29 to 30 mos. (2 1/2 years)
  • 10 cube tower is 29 to 30 mos.
  • A 3 cube bridge is 31 to 32 mos.
  • A 4 cube wall is 35 to 36 mos (3 years)
  • 6 cube steps is 51 to 52 mos. (4 years old)
  • 6 cube pyramid is 53 to 54 mos.

In case you are not familiar with these specific block designs, here are some pictures for you.

block designs for developmental modeling play. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

During the actual test, the objective is to have the child model each of these designs after one model is given by the therapist. And of course there are different testing criteria for each age and based on what the child does, the therapist gives them a score.

For parents and families however, these designs are an excellent way to encourage some great developmental skills with your toddler and preschooler.

  • Following a model & directions
  • Visual motor skills (visual perception particularly)
  • Fine motor skills (grasping: particularly pincer grasp)
  • Proprioception skills (muscle movement and grading how much strength to use to place the blocks so they don't fall over)

For my daughter (who is right in the 2 1/2 age range) we got out her large set of wooden blocks and had a work mat on the floor. I modeled each one for her and then let her try to copy it while looking at the design. Of course she also had fun knocking my designs over and it became quite the game.

Playing with wooden blocks for developmental play. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

Of course she also dumped the entire set on the floor, which is what the picture above is. If you have a child who distracts easily, you will want to make sure to only have a few out at a time, maybe enough for you to model and for them to copy.

Ellie was able to do the train model and also a tower up to 6 high I believe. I think she probably could have gone higher, but of course knocking them down is more fun. 😉

The important thing is NOT TO STRESS if your child doesn't follow along perfectly. Just play along with them and encourage them to copy the designs as they want to or can. It should be a fun and playful time for both of you. As they get use to playing with the blocks and manipulating them, they will get better and better at each design.

Other Developmental Activities and Skills with Wooden Blocks

Learning patterns, colors, and shapes with wooden blocks for developmental play. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

If you have some wooden blocks that are different colors or shapes, this is an excellent way to add in some extra developmental activities and skills.

Can they do a pattern with the blocks based on colors and/or shapes?

Can they build towers with other shapes than a cube/square?

What types of designs can they come up with on their own? Then you get the copy their design!

What are each of the shapes in the blocks? What colors are they?

The container of blocks my daughter has also has a lid with the different shapes cut out in it. If you have something like this, it's a great way to pick up when you are done and work on matching and problem solving skills.

Matching and problem solving skills with wooden blocks for developmental play. www.GoldenReflectionsBlog.com

For more developmental activity ideas like this one, check out my OT Tips from GRB Pinterest board:

 

Follow Heather G. | Golden Reflections Blog ‘s board OT Tips from GRB on Pinterest.
 Sharing with: Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Living Montessori Now, Hip Homeschool Moms, The Natural Homeschooler, Happy and Blessed Home

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Filed Under: Child Development Tagged With: Fine Motor, Tot-School

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CONTENT DISCLAIMER: Heather Greutman is a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant.
All information on the Website is for informational purposes only and is not a replacement for medical advice from a physician or your pediatrician. Please consult with a medical professional if you suspect any medical or developmental issues with your child. The information on the Websites does not replace the relationship between therapist and client in a one-on-one treatment session with an individualized treatment plan based on their professional evaluation. The information provided on the Website is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.

Do not rely on the information on the Website as an alternative to advice from your medical professional or healthcare provider. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment as a result of any information provided on the Website. All medical information on the Website is for informational purposes only.

All activities outlined on the Website are designed for completion with adult supervision. Please use your own judgment with your child and do not provide objects that could pose a choking hazard to young children. Never leave a child unattended during these activities. Please be aware of and follow all age recommendations on all products used in these activities. Growing Hands-On Kids is not liable for any injury when replicating any of the activities found on this blog.

YOUR RESPONSIBILITY The Website was developed strictly for informational purposes. You understand and agree that you are fully responsible for your use of the information provided on the Website. Growing Hands-On Kids makes no representations, warranties, or guarantees. You understand that results may vary from person to person. Growing Hands-On Kids assumes no responsibility for errors or omissions that may appear on the Website.

Comments

  1. Kalista says

    May 15, 2015 at 8:07 am

    Blocks are definitely a favourite around here! Although their favourite part seems to be dumping them all over the floor and knocking over each other’s towers. haha

    Reply
  2. Samantha @Stir the Wonder says

    June 15, 2015 at 3:46 pm

    Great information here! Thanks for linking up at the Thoughtful Spot! We hope you join us again this week!

    Reply
  3. Gina V.R. Tobias says

    March 16, 2021 at 9:21 am

    Our OT says our blocks are too big. Can you please provide a product link for these?

    Reply
    • Heather Greutman says

      March 16, 2021 at 1:52 pm

      Hi Gina, something like these blocks is the kind I use (referral/affiliate link): https://amzn.to/38M3qk1 These are unfinished, but sometimes Melissa & Doug have a good stacking block set.

      Reply

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