by Hilary King
Have you ever sat and watched a child play with their toy blocks? It can be an amazing thing to do. To an adult, it may look like they are simply stacking them up in straight lines and create unique shapes and designs. To the child however, they are creating a fantasy world all their own. An adult looks at a block and sees a wooden cube. A child looks at the same block and sees a brick for their castle. It is simply amazing how children can be so open to their creativity and their passionate side. Toys, and blocks more specifically, are great tools to give children.
Experts claim that children learn more through play than anything else when they are young. They can learn life skills by playing with dolls, cars, paint, or many other things. They can learn to be creative with crayons, scissors, and a little glue. With blocks, children can not only learn colors, counting, and cause and effect skills, but they can also learn to release their imagination. A child with a creative imagination is a healthy child. Children who dreamed all day were once looked down upon. However, today we know that those children are often the ones that grow to be the most creative adults on the planet. Allowing your child to explore their imaginative side is healthy.
For the structure that we raise,
Time is with materials filled;
Our to-days and yesterdays
Are the blocks with which we build.
—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1809–1882)
When you let your child explore their imagination you are allowing them to relieve stress. While some adults may not think their children experience stress, it is true that most children do have stress at some level. It may be that they hear you talk about your problems and take the stress on as their own. They may have problems at school or an argument with their siblings. All of these things can be completely released through play.
Blocks are one of the most classic and simple toys on the market. They have been around for years. The reason blocks are still a favorite is because they are so simple that children can use them for anything. They can build amazing castles with them to house their knights and horses. They can construct towers that are so high the wind knocks them over. There are so many possibilities with blocks and a child will take full advantage of it. While some toys can only be used one way, blocks can be used in many ways. You may be shocked at the different ways you see your children using their blocks.
The nature of blocks is changing a bit. You can still find the traditional wooden cubed blocks with numbers and letters on the sides. These are great for a child who needs to start recognizing their numbers and letters. You can also find blocks such as Lego's that are intended for constructing more elaborate things. These blocks typically appeal to older children more than younger kids, however the company does make toddler sets as well.
Good blocks of oak it was I split,
As large around as the chopping block;
And every piece I squarely hit
Fell splinterless as a cloven rock.
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
Another great thing about blocks is that they are not gender specific. You can get either a boy or a girl a great set of blocks and he or she will play with them for hours. If you need a fast gift and are not really sure what the child likes, blocks can be the perfect solution. You can give them to any child and know that their parents will be excited about the gift as well. There are always those parents who allow their children to give other children toys such as paint ball guns or noisy alien pistols. Many parents won't even let their children play with these items and end up taking them away right after the party. When you give a gift of blocks, you can be certain the parents will allow their children to play with them.
If you are looking for a great and inexpensive way to keep your children entertained for hours, pull out the blocks. You may even have a set you had when you were a child. They will likely play with them contently and allow you to get the housework done, or perhaps even relax for a moment with a book. Take the time to allow them to be imaginative and enjoy the peace and quiet for you.