The Benefits of Construction Play in Early Childhood

Construction play is considered one of the most engaging and enriching experiences for young children. It is so much more than simply stacking blocks or building towers. It is a foundational, play-based learning experience that supports early childhood development in multiple areas, from cognitive growth to practicing social-emotional skills. At Starfish Early Learning Centre (ELC), we embrace construction play as an integral part of our educational program, providing children with opportunities to learn through creativity, problem-solving, and collaboration.

What is Construction Play?

Construction play is a wide range of experiences in which children use materials to construct, create, and explore. Traditional toys include blocks, LEGO bricks, and magnetic tiles, but it can also involve open-ended materials like cardboard boxes, natural resources, and recycled materials. This type of play enables children to be creative yet, at the same time, learn some useful skills. Essentially, construction play integrates creativity with active learning, whereby children are afforded the opportunity to experiment, take risks, and think for themselves.

Unlike structured experiences, construction play is child-initiated, it allows freedom and invites investigation. Children may work alone in designing their own models or work together as a group in building something. Both provide very different opportunities for learning and development.

The Benefits of Construction Play

Construction play is one of the most versatile experiences, supporting a child’s development in multiple domains.

Cognitive Development

Construction play gives children opportunities for problem-solving, thinking spatially, and using critical thinking. Children can learn concepts such as balance and symmetry and cause-and-effect relationships as they figure out how to make their structures stand up and work properly. For example, the stacking of blocks requires some forethought in planning and the appreciation of gravity, while patterns with tiles introduce simple mathematical relationships such as sequencing and geometry.

Motor Skills Development

Construction play refines both fine and gross motor skills. While manipulating small objects, such as blocks or LEGO pieces, children develop hand-eye coordination and enhance their fine motor skills. The ability to lift and set larger materials in place, or even using tools, enhances gross motor development through building strength, balance, and coordination.

Social and Emotional Growth

When children are involved in constructive building play, they learn to share, communicate, negotiate, and be part of a team. This process leads to the development of social skills: sharing, taking turns, and solving problems together. It helps to build resilience as children face difficulties or frustrations (ie a block that keeps falling down, not having enough of a particular shape etc). Children are also able to celebrate their achievements (ie, the completion of a project, or finding an ingenious solution).

Creativity and Imagination

Construction play is a means for children to turn an idea into action, developing their imagination and innovation, which offers unlimited opportunities with each new day in the design of a castle, city, or spaceship. Indeed, open-ended materials invite them to be as creative as they wish, exploring new dimensions. Language and Communication Skills

As they describe their creations or talk with others about their plans, vocabulary continues to grow and the communications become clearer. The use of descriptive words about what they are building helps them articulate their thoughts and builds stronger language. 

Construction Play at Starfish ELC

Construction is one of the important areas of the children’s play-based learning at Starfish ELC. Borrowing from the approach of Reggio Emilia, we know that children learn best when they are directly involved in the decision making of an experience. When children have autonomy, they engage more fully with the experience and take on the responsibilities needed to complete it. Access to a well-stocked construction space provides children with a very suitable platform for such learning.

How We Engage Children in Construction Play

Purposeful Environments are set up intentionally with multiple open-ended materials that will provoke and inspire curiosity and imagination. From wood to other natural resources, recycled materials, and child-safe tools, we provide materials that invite exploration. Children take ownership of their play by making decisions about which materials to use and what they will build through child-led exploration. This provides them with opportunities for independence and ownership within their process of learning.

Guided Support – While the construction play is child-led, our educators are always nearby, offering guidance, posing open-ended questions, and helping facilitate deeper learning. For example, they may ask, “What could you do to make your tower taller?” or “How can you make sure it doesn’t fall over?” or “Tell me about your project.”

Collaborative Opportunities – We create time for group construction projects, where children in cooperation solve problems, share their ideas, and build something together. This helps develop a spirit of teamwork and social skills in children and enhances the joy of shared accomplishments.

 Environmental Incorporation: Large-scale construction play outdoors allows children to use their whole bodies as they move and build. It adds another dimension to their learning and development.

Why Construction Play Matters

Construction play is much more than fun. It’s a cornerstone in early childhood education that nurtures important skills and dispositions. At Starfish ELC, we appreciate how it combines creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, and exploration all into one activity. In this way, construction play is integrated into our curriculum and serves as a means whereby children are building not just structures but also skills and confidence to prosper in all aspects of life.

For more information about how Starfish ELC supports early childhood development through play-based learning, visit our website or contact us today.

FAQs

Why is construction play important?
It supports children’s overall development by enhancing problem-solving, motor skills, creativity, and teamwork. It’s also a fun way to explore concepts like balance and symmetry.

What is an example of constructive play?
Building a tower with blocks or creating shapes with magnetic tiles are great examples that spark creativity and learning.

How is constructive play different from functional play?
Functional play focuses on basic motor activities, while constructive play involves creating purposeful structures and encouraging advanced thinking.

What is the value of constructive play?
It blends fun with skill-building, helping children develop creativity, resilience, and teamwork while laying a foundation for STEM learning.

What age is constructive play for?
It starts around age two and grows more complex as children develop, making it ideal for early childhood and beyond.