Children often begin building Magna-Tiles flat on a surface, and as their motor planning and cognitive skills progress, they start to build upward and outward to create more involved three-dimensional shapes. The premise is seemingly simple, various colors of translucent geometric shapes that magnetically connect. One of the original magnetic construction toy companies, Magna-Tiles are a staple of many playrooms and schools for good reason. And being a proud LEGO builder myself for as long as I can remember, I still find comfort and wonder in building alongside my kids. I've found LEGO bricks are a great resource for developing fine motor skills, and a way to relax and calm down after a busy school day. Once their designs are constructed, they engage in role playing using the scenes they've built. I've seen them develop social skills like resilience and perseverance when they can't quite figure something out right away. And, of course, it's compatible with other LEGO sets.Īs a parent, watching my kids improve their problem-solving skills while using LEGO bricks has been awe-inspiring. This classic 484-piece set is designed with 35 colors, plus windows, tires, wheel rims and more for unlimited imaginative play. LEGO bricks are a tremendous developmental tool, whether kids are working on spatial recognition and order-following with the directions or going rogue and using their creativity to develop worlds all their own. The hardest part of making this list? Narrowing it down to a manageable number as there are so many amazing building toys I could have included! I suggest being mindful of facilitating a more open-ended play experience for your child, instead of encouraging them to manufacture and recreate something that already exists, as this can exacerbate perfectionism and inhibit full creative expression. And while, as parents, it's tempting to step in to help your kid do it "right," I've found this can backfire. "Spontaneous play, in which we don't tell them what and how to play, puts a child in control to direct the story," notes Jennifer Rothman, LCSW, a DIR/Floortime clinician who specializes in play therapy. But there's also magic (and growth!) to be found in allowing your kid to do their own thing. Adhering to step-by-step instructions to recreate that LEGO skyscraper helps with fine motor skill development, problem solving skills and refined spatial reasoning, among a host of other benefits. The good news is that building toys serve a tremendous value whether your kid decides to follow the directions or not.
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