January 20th, 2009 Operation Playtime Day 1 of 12: Blocks Posted by Melitsa in Operation playtime, play activities

1. Operation playtime- come join in! 20th January 2009
2. #OPT starts tomorrow
3. Operation Playtime Day 1 of 12: Blocks

Hands up- how many of us have blocks at home….somewhere? Maybe you have family wooden blocks that your grandpa made;coloured blocks, wooden blocks or plastic blocks. If you don’t have blocks try cans but be extra careful of little fingers and expect dents.

Whatever you have let’s play!

1. Dust off your blocks
2. Find a suitable area so the blocks can stack and fall safely.

Ideas

Try something new. If you usually initiate block play by starting a tower or lining them up. Don’t. Instead assemble and bring your child to the blocks. Sit with him and wait and see what they do with it.For more about this approach read more about block play.

Established block players or older children extend the game into some pretend play scenarios. Give them scarves or other natural materials to encourage pretend play; perhaps read a book to inspire acting out of a scene. You may try acting out a scene with the blocks yourself if this type of play is new.

Kids love when we are silly. The problem here is that they may just copy and never try their own ideas. With time and more opportunities they will try experimenting often building from your scaffolded ideas. Maybe today is their first time of free playing with blocks.

Try asking questions, “Parents can instead ask questions- “What shape do you need? I’ll hand them to you.” or  ” Tell me what you are doing?” ” Where would they sleep?”  Here the parent is being the assistant not the director. The parent is deepening and not directing. ” Who should I be?” Let your child direct.” Overlooked creative toys II

Come back and tell us your experiences of using blocks. Share what you did. How did you like the free play? What do you need help with? What blocks do you have/prefer?

1. Put your thoughts in a blog post and use that link, not your blog, into Mr Linky.
2. Add a comment here as well if you’d like.
3. Visit the others and comment.

See you tomorrow.

Melitsa Avila is a former teacher, mother of three boys and military wife who talks about living an intentional play lifestyle using practical and everyday play activities to do with the under 5s. She publishes related ebooks & newsletters. Melitsa is the host and producer of a weekly Early Childhood radio show: Raising Playful Tots bringing parents and carers together with Early childhood practitioners. Thanks for reading!

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