Nursery World - Learning & Development: Block Play

Requiring only simple materials, block play nevertheless gives
children the power to bring imaginary worlds to life. Michael Follett
suggests handing over creative control.

Have you ever wondered why children love to build a tower of blocks and then knock it down again? What looks like a simple activity and a simple resource enables them to explore and develop much more than would appear at first sight, including strength, co-ordination, narrative, literacy, language, co-operation, negotiation, self-confidence, empowerment and intelligence.

Block play is appealing to children on many levels. Large blocks such as wood, cardboard or bales present the physical challenge of manipulation - getting your arms around them, lifting, dragging, tipping and transporting are challenging and rewarding actions.

Often, large blocks become the catalyst for group co-operative activity, either in the desire to move quantities of them or the desire to perform a task such as a large building project that would be easier and quicker with some help.

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