Art Blocks

Product Description

Social/Emotional 4

Skills

• Sharing and turn taking are encouraged during play with more than one child.
• Parallel play, cooperative play and social interaction can all be addressed as children play in close proximity using the multiple blocks in each set.
• As children play and build with the Weplay Art Blocks, they develop an understanding of the world around them through spatial reasoning. 

Play Ideas

• Take turns adding blocks to a structure.
• Add small play figures (people, animals, cars) during play with these blocks to encourage imaginative/pretend play. 
• A caregiver can hand a child one block at a time creating interaction with another person. 

Adaptation Ideas

• For children who are easily over-stimulated, provide only a few blocks during play. Gradually increase the number as a child’s ability and frustration levels permit.
• The included storage tray can be used to provide a focused play space.

Cognitive 4

Skills

• Through play, visual-spatial processing occurs that can help lay the foundation for mathematical and higher order thinking.
• Playing with these blocks can help develop mathematical concepts by using tangible, visual means to learn foundational knowledge, not depending on rote memory.
• Sequential thought process and motor planning takes place as children process, prepare and execute building a structure with the blocks.

Play Ideas

• Use the storage container as a puzzle frame and place all the blocks in. Some children may enjoy having assistance with this task. In this case, place all but one or two blocks in and have the child “complete the puzzle”. The next time, leave out several more blocks until the child is completing the puzzle from start to finish with all the blocks. This also assists children in learning how to clean up after themselves.
• Begin a pattern using blocks and have the child copy or continue that pattern. Alternate two different colors/patterns to begin AB patterning, which is a premath skill.
• Build blocks up and then verbally count to three and knock them down.

Adaptation Ideas

• The included storage tray can be used to provide a focused play space.

Physical 3

Skills

• Eye-hand coordination and transferring are practiced as children build a stack of blocks or a more elaborate structure.
• Playing with these blocks can help develop mathematical concepts by using tangible, visual means to learn foundational knowledge, not depending on rote memory.
• Problem solving skills can be developed as a child builds a structure.

Play Ideas

• Use the deep section of the storage tray and have the child place a block in and take a block out. Gradually place all the blocks in. Advance to using the shallow section of the storage tray and continue play.
• Bang two blocks together to make music.

Adaptation Ideas

• The included storage tray can be used to provide a focused play space and keep the blocks within reach.
• Place non-skid shelf liner under the blocks and tray to help stabilize the blocks and avoid them from sliding out of reach of a child.