purposeful play
Stages of Block Play
Blocks and block accessories aren’t just toys-they’re one of the most powerful learning tools in early childhood. When children pick up a block, they’re not only building towers, bridges, and castles… they’re also building problem-solving skills, spatial awareness, and even the foundation for math and literacy.
Just like crawling comes before walking, children move through stages of block play that grow more complex over time. At first, you might see random stacking or even knocking blocks down for fun.
Later, those same little hands will be constructing roads, houses, or elaborate scenes filled with imagination.
By understanding these stages, you’ll be able to meet your child (or students) exactly where they are-and gently guide them toward the next step when they’re ready. Think of it as giving their play a little “scaffolding” so that their learning, creativity, and confidence can keep climbing higher and higher.
6 Stages of Block Play
Children love to play with blocks and will be begin exploring blocks by carrying them around, loading them into an empty container, or possibly a vehicle. They will transport the blocks and dump them out.
It may look simple, but this stage builds coordination, curiosity, and comfort with materials.
Skills being developed: Gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and sensory exploration.
How you can support:
Offer a variety of block sizes and textures (foam, wooden, cardboard).
Give them space to move blocks around without worrying about “making something.”
Celebrate exploration-every lifted, dropped, or carried block is learning in action!
Provide baskets or wagons so they can transport blocks with purpose.
When a child reaches stage 2, they will begin to use blocks to build objects such as towers and roads.
Towers that tumble down are all part of the fun. At this stage, children are experimenting with balance, cause-and-effect, and the very first steps of design.
They will begin to engage their imagination and use other props such as cars and other vehicles to add details to their building structure.
Skills being developed: Balance, stability, sequencing, and cause-and-effect thinking.
How You Can Support:
Provide flat building surfaces (like trays or mats) for stability.
Use language like “higher,” “taller,” or “longer” to build early math vocabulary.
Make it playful- cheer when towers topple, then encourage rebuilding.
Offer books or pictures that show tall buildings for inspiration.
During stage 3 children begin connecting blocks in order to build bridges and passageways. They are beginning to utilize more creativity and purpose in their play.
You’ll often see three-block structures (two ends with one on top). This stage shows they’re beginning to think about how pieces relate to each other.
Skills being developed: Spatial relationships, balance, and problem-solving through trial and error.
How You Can Support:
Offer props like toy cars or animals to use with their bridges.
Ask open-ended questions: “What could go under your bridge?”
Introduce longer, thinner blocks to experiment with span and balance.
Model simple bridges yourself, then let them try.
Here, the play gets more intentional. Children will begin connecting blocks for the purpose of enclosure. They will add other details such as animals, people and other props.
This stage reflects problem-solving and an early understanding of inside/outside, boundaries, and space.
Skills being developed: Spatial awareness, boundaries, problem-solving, and early categorization.
How You Can Support:
Add small figures, animals, or vehicles to inspire enclosure play.
Encourage descriptive language: “Who is inside the fence? What’s outside?”
Take photos of their enclosures to celebrate their designs.
Offer blocks of varying heights so they can experiment with walls and gates.
As designs grow, children will begin using patterns and experimenting with balance and design. They will continue to add more and more details, perhaps naming and labeling their structures.
Play becomes more purposeful, and you’ll notice children telling simple stories about what they’ve built. This stage lays the groundwork for problem-solving and storytelling skills.
Skills being developed: Representation, symbolic thinking, storytelling, and creativity.
How You Can Support:
Add toy people, vehicles, or animals to spark storytelling.
Ask guiding questions: “Who lives in your house? Where does the road go?”
Provide photos and books with real buildings and cities for inspiration.
Set out paper, tape and writing utensils to encourage labeling or signs (drawn or written) to promote imagination and extend literacy.
By this stage, children can build with great dexterity and skill, and block play becomes highly imaginative and collaborative.
They will build multi-level complex structures using a wide variety of materials. Children will also use lots of props to create the desired effect.
They will become quite engaged in their building and take great pride in their creations. It may take them hours or even days to complete.
They may keep coming back to it to add more details.
Once they are finished they may not want to put it away. Perhaps let them keep it up for awhile if possible or offer to take a photo of their structure to print and display.
Skills being developed: Collaboration, planning, critical thinking, creativity, and resilience.
How You Can Support:
Encourage teamwork with big block sets or group projects.
Offer open-ended props (fabric pieces, signs, figurines) to extend play.
Celebrate their creations with photos or a “block showcase.”
Step back-let children lead, problem-solve, and collaborate on their own.
Benefits of Block Play
Block play may look like fun and games, but it’s packed with powerful learning opportunities. Each stage builds important skills in every area of development.
Motor Skills
Strengthens fine motor skills (grasping, stacking, balancing).
Improves hand-eye coordination and spatial awareness.
Builds gross motor strength through lifting, carrying, and moving blocks.
Math & Science Concepts
Early geometry: shapes, symmetry, patterns.
Measurement: taller/shorter, longer/shorter, wider/narrower.
Spatial reasoning: over, under, around, inside, outside.
Physics basics: balance, stability, cause-and-effect.
Language & Literacy
Expands vocabulary (tall, balance, bridge, inside, outside).
Encourages storytelling and dramatic play.
Strengthens communication as children describe, plan, and share ideas.
Problem-Solving & Critical Thinking
Experimenting with trial and error.
Adjusting plans when a tower falls or a bridge collapses.
Using imagination to create solutions and new designs.
Social & Emotional Skills
Learning to collaborate, share materials, and take turns.
Practicing patience and persistence.
Building confidence as creations grow more complex.
Creativity & Imagination
Designing structures that represent real-world objects.
Creating imaginary worlds, cities, or storylines.
Using blocks as open-ended tools for endless possibilities.
Why Block Play Matters
Block play may look simple on the surface, but it’s truly a powerhouse for early learning.
Each stage-whether it’s carrying, stacking, or creating full-blown cityscapes-lays the foundation for problem-solving, creativity, spatial reasoning, and even early math and literacy skills.
The beauty of blocks is that there’s no right or wrong way to play. Children move through the stages at their own pace, and every tower toppled or bridge built is one more step in their development.
By knowing what to look for and offering just the right amount of support, you’re helping them grow confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning that will carry into every part of their lives.
So next time you see a pile of blocks scattered across the floor, remember- it’s not just a messy pile. You’re watching the building blocks (literally!) of your child’s growth and imagination take shape.
