What Is Construction Play?
Construction play is described as a kind of play where a child is given pieces of toys to use and manipulate to construct something new like a building structure. Anything that involves manipulation, stacking, assembling and sorting is considered construction play.
Common household items like cardboard boxes can be used for simple yet fun construction play. Children can stack these cardboard boxes on top of each other to create a tower. But there are toys such as construction toys that are designed for construction play. These toys make construction play more fun and exciting for little kids.
There are many developmental and learning benefits to construction play. Let us take a look at some of these benefits.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor skills are abilities that allow us to perform precise movements or actions using a small group of muscles in our hands, fingers and wrists. For instance, holding a pencil, tying shoelaces, buttoning a shirt or cutting a piece of paper using a pair of scissors make good use of fine motor skills.
Construction toys often come with play pieces that can be manipulated by a child’s hands and fingers. Picking up a play piece or pushing a transport truck back and forth or even putting construction blocks on top of each other are good ways to practice and hone fine motor skills. The more often a child uses his fine motor skills, the better.
Gross Motor Skills
Gross motor skills are abilities that involve the use of large groups of muscles in our bodies to perform purposeful movements. Actions like jumping, sitting upright, walking, running and jogging are only a few examples of movements that require gross motor skills.
Constructive play often requires kids to become mobile, active and move parts of their bodies as they build. Children should also be either sitting up right or standing when engaged in construction play. As they move their construction toys from one place to the next, they fine tune their gross motor skills which lends to healthy physical development.
Problem Solving
Playing with construction toys often involved solving simple problems. How to construct a tower just by using building blocks or how a lorry can get in and out of the loading dock are just a few examples of simple problems children have to deal with during construction play. Simple challenges like these could frustrate youngsters but that is part of the fun of this kind of play.
Children can deal with these little challenges of construction play in many ways. Trial and error is a good way to figure out how to construct structures. Having solid problem skills can help children deal with problems later on when they grow older and become less dependent on their parents.
Communication and Social Skills
Construction toys are fun even when played alone. But like most toys, these toys are more fun when played with others. When children play with others they learn how to cooperate, compromise and interact with other children. They build their social and emotional skills as well as their communication skills. They will learn new words and expand their vocabulary. They will also experience a wide range of emotions and they will learn how to deal with strong emotions like anger, fear and frustration.
In conclusion, construction play is an important part of a child’s early learning and development.
Next Up: Are Construction Toys Worth It?
