.jpg) Stages of Block Building (Johnson, 1996.)
All children progress through specific stages as they use blocks in play. This is also true for older children who have not previously experienced block play (except for stage one, which is omitted by older children), although older children progresss through the stages much more quickly. Knowledge of these stages will help teachers better support children's block play.
Stage 1 Blocks are carried around but are not used for construction (very young children).
Stage 2 Building Begins. Children mostly make rows, either horizontal (on the floor) or vertical (stacked). There is much repetition in this early building pattern, which is basic functional play with blocks.
Stage 3 Bridging: children create a bridge (or portal) by using two blocks to support a third. In architecture this is known as the post-and- lintel system.
Stage 4 Enclosures: children place blocks in such a way that they enclose a space. Bridging and enclosures are among the earliest technical problems children have to solve when playing with blocks, and they occur soon after a child begins to use blocks regularly.
Stage 5 With age, children become steadily more imaginative in their block building. The use more blocks and create more elaborate designs, incorporating patterns and balance into their constructions.
Stage 6 Naming of structures for dramatic play begins. Before this stage, children may have named their structures, but not necessarily based on the function of the building. This stage of block building corresponds to the "realistic" stage in art development.
Stage 7 Children use blocks to represent things they know, like cities, cars, airplanes, and houses. They also use blocks to stimulate dramatic play activites: zoo, farm, shopping centre, and other locations. |