Building a tower with blocks is an early childhood development concept referring to the act of stacking. Wooden, plastic, containers, cups, Lego and boxes can be used for building towers. The primary objective of building towers is to stack as many blocks as possible until the tower collapses.

Why does it matter?

The activity develops fine motor and coordination skills as carefully placing the blocks requires precision, eye-hand coordination and grip control. Secondly, it develops cognitive and problem-solving skills as children learn about cause and effect, trial and error, and building stability by determining the importance of the base structure in holding up the tower. Thirdly, it develops emotional resilience as knocking down a tower or having it accidentally fall teaches frustration management and persistance to try again. Finally, early Maths concepts such as size, balance, spatial awareness, shape, counting and colour are supported.

When does it develop?

Typically a 12-15 month old stacks 2 blocks; a 16-18 month stacks 3-4 blocks; a 2-year-old stacks 6-7 blocks, and older than 2.5-years stacks more than 7 blocks.

What can ECD Practitioners and parents/caregivers do?

  • Provide stable blocks adding different types of blocks as the play progresses
  • Allow child to initiate the play of building a tower then only should you intervene to extend the play
  • Play at their eye level, i.e., on the floor or sitting at a table
  • Narrate the process to build vocabulary, e.g., top, bottom, higher, lower, balance, colours, big, small
  • Rather assist vocally with leading questions or suggestions than taking over the play with demonstration, as this can harm creativity and confidence in achieving something by themselves
  • Gamify the process, e.g., ‘can you build a tower as high as your hand?,’ ‘how many blocks, count the blocks,’ ‘try a different colour’
  • Encourage emotional resilience by identifying with emotions and feelings , e.g., ‘Crash! That was fun, let’s try again!’ ‘Oh dear, are you feeling sad?, ‘we can always try again.’

DISCLAIMER: Please note that milestones are a guide, not a rule and that children may reach them at different times.