Toy Wooden Block Learning Activities for Toddlers and Kids

One of the best, if not the best, playthings for toddlers and small children has to be toy wooden blocks; the toy wooden blocks that have either a number, letter, or a picture on all six of its sides. So much learning can be had by your child playing and using toy wooden blocks. While this article lists several toy wooden block learning activities for your toddler or small child, the list by no means exhausts all of the creative learning possibilities that exist.

Stacking Toy Wooden Blocks

Whom of us didn't stack toy wooden blocks as a child? That's the first thing you think to do with them. Having your toddler learn to stack the wooden blocks as tall as they can without them falling over teaches them patience, as well as the elementary things of physics, geometry and architecture.

Stack a set of wooden blocks into a simple structure yourself and have your toddler copy your structure by stacking another set of wooden blocks next to yours. Of course, help the child along the way whenever they need assistance, particularly when they really need your help.

Counting Toy Wooden Blocks

The most common toy wooden blocks in the United States have six sides to them, with two of the sides stamped or carved with a number on it. Arrange the blocks from left to right, with the left-most block showing the number one, continuing with the next number with each successive block to the right. In other words, simply line up the blocks from left to right, numbered one through nine, or zero through nine. Slowly sound out each number as you point to it and have your young toddler repeat each sound for the number after you say it. All of the advanced math in the world still comes back to simply counting and adding numbers.

Pile all of the blocks together. Take one block at a time and start a new pile, counting each block as you slowly add it to the new pile. There's no need to find and use the numbers on the blocks, since you're simply counting the toy wooden blocks themselves as you put them into the new pile. Have your toddler count each number with you, all the way up to however many blocks you move from the old pile to the new pile. Kids have great capacities for learning; don't short-count your toddler.

Spelling Toy Wooden Blocks

Whether your child has a name that has two Zs in it or a simple three letter name, almost without fail you and your child will be able to spell out his or her name using both the stamped and carved sides of the toy wooden blocks. If not, simply use extra blocks you didn't use to spell the name to actually form the letter you're missing, where the one block with the correct letter should have been in place. Doing so also teaches your child how to creatively improvise.

Even before spelling out spelling out his or her name, you can have the toddler place the blocks in alphabetical order. Use the blocks, too, to spell out simple words, such as cat, and then put them back into the pile and have the child find the same letters you used and then spell out the same word. You and your child can very much enjoy various learning activities that are the beginnings of verbal communication.

Learning Activities Using the Pictures on the Toy Wooden Blocks

Ask the child to identify the pictures on the toy wooden blocks, by either pointing to the block with the picture or by actually sounding out the word for the picture.

Ask the toddler pick out the block that has the picture you've asked them to identify and then have them take the block and set it next to the real object in or around the house. If they need to go outside to do so, by all means let them take the block outside so that they can put it where the real object of the picture is, or where it would normally be found. For example, a bumblebee may not be found flying around flowers outside, but that's where it's normally found so let the child place the toy wooden block with the picture of the bumblebee near a flower.

Let your creative juices flow while you and your child are playing with these wonderful playthings: toy wooden blocks. Again, by no means is this list of toy wooden block learning activities for toddlers and kids exhaustive. With the smallest of efforts, you can find a hundred other learning activities too using toy wooden blocks.