Playing with Blocks, Legos and Other Building Toys is Important !

In an ever-increasing press to foster early education upon our young children, playtime is often seen as a 'waste of time', when in reality young children learn best by playing. Having access to simple building toys allows them to put into practice their early cognitive skills of recognition, creativity, and hand eye movements in a pressure free, unstructured atmosphere!

While 'educational' toys, games and programs flood the market today, there is still none which compares with basic sets of Legos, building blocks, and other 'building toys' such as those other clasic standbys-Lincoln Logs and Tinkey Toys!

Playtime is a very important part of a child's developmental activities allowing room for creativity, discovery and exploration. While there are benefits to most toys when it comes to playtime, the classics such as blocks, Legos and other building toys is important in several ways.

Shape Recognition: Many building sets of all types are designed to integrate several different shapes and sizes to build a creative piece. This helps children to recognize not only differences among various pieces but similarities as well. Building Blocks are indestructible and can be stacked sorted and arranged in endless configurations.

Color Recognition: Alternating colors or patterns during the building process aids in noticing distinctions in light and dark color patterns as well as design. Lego blocks range in colors and sizes from the large Lego blocks for very young toddlers, to the small pieces and sets designed with certain projects in mind. Because addition sets can be added, the combinations are also endless.

Hand - Eye coordination: In stacking blocks and experiencing them tumbling over or leaning to far one way or the other, hand-eye coordination is developed in young children.

Legos , blocks and other building sets further enhance the hand-eye coordination when the child chooses which ones to interconnect. Getting the parts to snap together rather than simply stack as in the case with building blocksoffers more challenges.

Creativity is developed in the combination of pieces and the unlimited building sets can be put together. This encourages a child to explore options and gain confidence in his ability to create something on his own. The designs and set ups are only limited by the child's ever growing imagination.

Today's electronic gifts and gadgets have their place, but in choosing toys for young children don't forget the basics!

Playtime does serve a useful purpose in the developmental processes of young children. When choosing toys for young children, give them blocks, Legos and other types of building sets and watch their confidence grow along with their creations!

Resources:

Lego.com: The Official Website of Lego Products
"Lego Timeline" May 1, 2007
http://www.lego.com/eng/info/default.asp?page=timeline7>

Judy's Old Wooden Toys: "Lincoln Logs" May 1, 2007
http://www.oldwoodtoys.com/lincoln_logs.html>

History.Com: "Toys and Games" May 1, 2007
< http://www.history.com/exhibits/toys/bears.html>