How this helps
For toddlers building and knocking down blocks is not only a great chance to talk, but also teaches them about how they can affect the world around them. For more information about this watch this film on child development.
As your little one gets older, you can make this activity more challenging which can help expand their vocabulary as well as teach them more about patience and resilience.
鈥 This game helps children learn how to describe objects and their positions.
鈥 When the tower falls, the game allows you to chat about your child's emotions and feelings.
鈥 It's a great opportunity to explain that things might not always go right at first.
鈥 By chatting together about how they could build a better tower, you're teaching them about perseverance.
鈥 Using building blocks helps boost fine and gross motor skills and hand-to-eye coordination.
Watch the film
Instructions for parents/carers
Ask your child to build the tallest tower they can in 10 seconds. Can they build a tall tower without knocking it over accidentally?
Depending on your blocks, you might want to extend the time to 20 seconds or even a minute. Make a decision based on their ability.
If you want to add a level of difficulty, ask them to count the blocks as they're building. If they are a confident builder, why not have a race? Who can build the tallest tower in 10 seconds?
The time pressure might make them knock over their tower. If this happens, encourage them to try again and praise them for their efforts.
It is a great chance to introduce words such as tall, short, tower, building, fall. You can also add more complex words, which will help with their maths language when they get to school.
Try introducing words like longer, shorter, taller, longest, tallest, shortest and concepts of first and last.
See printable handouts for this activity below.
Chat with parents/carers
Here are some questions you might ask them:
鈥 Did you notice your little one paid more attention when you played the activity together?
鈥 How did your child react when the tower fell down?
鈥 How else could you use the bricks to create opportunities to play?
More ideas for parents/carers to try at home
There are lots of ways you can use building blocks to boost language. Here are some more activity ideas:
1. Block sorting and matching
Ask your child to find all the red blocks, for example, and put them in a separate pile or a special place.
Start with asking them to find just one colour and as they develop their skills, build up to sorting all of the blocks at once.
2. Block bowling
Make sure to try this game in a safe space where nothing will be damaged if blocks fall over.
Use a soft toy or rolled up socks to knock down your block towers. You can help develop their listening skills by making them wait for you to say "ready, steady鈥.go".
3. Block treasure hunt
Hide blocks around the room or house and give them simple clues to help them find them.
If the blocks are different colours, you could hide the red block near another red item in the room. Include the colour red in your clues.
Find out more about the benefits of building blocks for toddlers and pre-schoolers.
Download and print-off the activity sheets for parents to take home.
