Construction Toys - Part 1

Construction toys are any toys that allow the child to build using pieces that either connect together or stack on top of each other easily and are great for enhancing children's motor skills, handling capabilities, planning skills, hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills and of course their imaginations. Many studies have shown the importance of this type of dynamic play the skills that are developed with this type of play. In Part 1 of this blog, we'll look at the developmental benefits of these sorts of toys. In Part 2, I'll list some of the construction toys and kits we have in the shop.

Construction toys and maths:

Block play is linked with better maths skills, too. A longitudinal study tracked kids from preschool to high school (Wolfgang et al 2001). Researchers found that 4-years who played with blocks in more complex ways were more likely to achieve high math scores in high school.
We might reasonably assume that the link is caused by higher IQs—-i.e., that smarter preschoolers are both more likely to engage in complex block play and more likely to achieve in high school math classes. But researchers found that the association remained significant even after they controlled for a child’s IQ.


Construction toys and problem solving

Psychologists recognize two major types of problem. Convergent problems have only one correct solution. Divergent problems can be solved in multiple ways.
Because kids can put together blocks in a variety of ways, block play is divergent play. And divergent play with blocks may prepare kids to think creatively and better solve divergent problems.

In one experiment, researchers presented preschoolers with two types of play materials (Pepler and Ross 1981).

• Some kids got materials for convergent play (puzzle pieces).

• Other kids were given materials for divergent play (chunky, block-like foam shapes).

• Kids were given time to play and then were tested on their ability to solve problems.

The results? The kids who played with blocks performed better on divergent problems. They also showed more creativity in their attempts to solve the problems (Pepler and Ross 1981).


Construction toys and socialisation

Research suggests that kids become friendlier and more socially-savvy when they work on cooperative construction projects. For example, autistic kids who attended play group sessions with toy blocks made greater social improvements than did kids who were coached in the social use of language(Owens et al 2008;Legoff and Sherman 2006). Other research on normally-developing kids suggests that kids who work on cooperative projects form higher-quality friendships (Roseth et al 2009).


Construction Toys and Language Development

In a study sponsored by Mega Bloks, researchers gave blocks to middle- and low-income toddlers (Christakis et al 2007). The kids ranged in age from 1.5 to 2.5 years, and were randomly assigned to receive one of two treatments.

• Kids in the treatment group got two sets of toy Mega Bloks—-80 plastic interlocking blocks and a set of specialty blocks, including cars and people--at the beginning of the study. The parents of these toddlers were given instructions for encouraging block play.

• Kids in control group did not get blocks until the end of the study. The parents of these kids received no instructions about block play.

• Parents in both groups were asked to keep time diaries of their children’s activities. Parents weren’t told the real purpose of the study--only that their kids were part of a study of child time use.

After six months, each parent completed a follow-up interview that included an assessment of the child's verbal ability (the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories).

The results?

Kids in the block group

• scored higher on parent-reported tests of vocabulary, grammar, and verbal comprehension, and

• showed a non-significant trend towards watching less TV

It’s not clear why block play had this effect. It could be that kids who spent more time playing with blocks also had more opportunities to talk with their parents. Possibly, the parents in the treatment group felt more motivated to report language improvements.

Alternatively, block-play itself might help kids develop skills important for language development--like the ability to plan and recognize cause-and-effect sequences.


In part 2 of this Blog, I'll show you some of the construction toys that we currently have in stock