November 23, 2015

Block Play is Important for Child Development Win Your own Big Building Bag

When I speak with my friends who are parents that have young children, some say that they feel like they are running out of ideas to make playtime fun. In my opinion and practice with my own children, I believe for children to have fun and play it doesn't need to cost a lot of money or require tech gadgets. All we have to do is provide our children with good quality toys that encourages development such as building blocks, a clean safe space, and spend time interacting and playing with them.

Recognizing this importance of play for children's development, MEGA BLOKS has a new line of construction toys that promote social, physical, emotional, cognitive, and language and communication skills. Turning to electronic devices or giving children "screen time," as their primary mode of playtime can harm children's development. Research and early childhood studies have proven that when children build with their hands, they are also building their minds and imagination, which is key to early learning. 
In partnership with parenting expert, Alyson Schafer, Mega Blocks has created an Early Childhood Education Toolkit that includes easy hints and tips for parents to get the most out of playtime. Alyson Schafer says, "Children are experiential learners and need to interact in real time, with the real world to develop properly. Free play is the natural way our brains are meant to grow and that's why MEGA BLOKS construction toys are so beneficial to a child's development. A simple task like stacking MEGA BLOKS teaches children how to widen the base to support a taller stack, the feeling of teetering and stability, persistence and patience in building, while receiving social encouragement."
A set like this Big Building Bag sold for $20 sold at all major Canadian retailers including: Toys R Us, Walmart, Sears, Real Canadian Super Stores and Amazon.ca offers amazing play value and endures hours of fun. The bright coloured blocks encourage hands-on exploration as children imagine and create. These unique blocks are big and easy for little fingers to assemble. When playtime is over, we can return the blocks to their eco-friendly bag and stash them in the toy box until the next adventure.

The Power of Play Top 5 Tips for Parents to Maximize Playtime
  1. Children Thrive On Routine And Predictability: Practice patience with your child by creating a set playtime and sticking with it.
  2. Create Independent Playtime Too: Help them come up with a few ideas of what they'd like to play with, and help get them set up, in order to balance "parental playtime" and "independent playtime."
  3. Round Out Your Activities: Come up with fun ideas for activities, in a range of developmental areas.
  4. Make Good Organized Play Space: Kids need a place to play and it should be equipped with basic items, and without parental worry of noise, spills and property damage. If you have more toys out and active than your child can clean up in five minutes, you have too much.
  5. Let the Child Lead: When you join your child in play, let them lead the play this is their time to explore and learn through mistakes.
Giveaway:
If you are in Canada and would like to win a MEGA BLOKS Big Building Bag then enter the giveaway through the rafflecopter below before December 18. Please leave comments and follow my social media networks to be eligible to win.
Update: The winner is Maryanne
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31 comments:

  1. I live in BC. Play time is very important, a time to learn, be creative! The 5 tips are great!

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  2. I live in Nova Scotia and I think that playtime is very important and the 5 tips are super :)

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  3. I live in BC. Play time is very important. We have a play area bit I'm sure we have too many toys and should probably give some away.

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  4. I live in Manitoba and of course play time is very important! kids gotta be kids and use their imaginations

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  5. I am in BC and believe that playtime is extremely important. children need to be able to play and use their imaginations.

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  6. I live in Ontario. Playtime is definitely important. The tips are extremely helpful.

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  7. I live in BC and Play time is super important! We are encouraging our grandson to play independently and to use his imagination right now!

    Rafflecopter Name is Anne Taylor

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  8. I live in BC and unstructured playtime is the most important in our house. Lots of imagination!

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  9. I live In AB and Play time is supper important, they learn so much from it. I followed these 5 step when my children were growing up and we now follow them with my granddaughters.

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  10. I live in Ontario and playtime is very important, it is how children learn and develop. The tips are good. (Judy Cowan)

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  11. I live in Ontario. I think that play time is very important. We don't have tv so that helps us to find different things to do. I often reference the "Nipissing Development Checklist" for ideas but it ends this year (age 6).

    Besos, Sarah
    Journeys of The Zoo

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  12. I'm in Alberta and I think that play time is very important for learning and proper development. I think the 5 tips are great.

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  13. I am in Ontario and absolutely playtime is important!! right now we are working on really gaining our daughters focus on one toy at a time cause she loves to play with everything and very scattered. I find things like lego and blocks where my daughter can build with it really gains her full attention

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  14. I live in BC and I think playtime is extremely important! So much so that I send my first child to a play based preschool, and will do the same when the time comes for my youngest, despite lots of pressure from peers to attend a more formal "educational" type preschool. I think kids learn a LOT through play, and now that my oldest is in school she is doing extremely well and I have no regrets about my choice of play based learning for her - she is ahead of her grade level in all language areas (in two languages) as well as math and even interpersonal skills according to her teacher. I think so much can be learned through play, and I think the list of tips is great!

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  15. I am in Ontario. Playtime is very important, interacting and imagination helps minds grow. I love the organized play space tip.

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  16. I live in ontario and i think that play time is very very important. there really isn't a better way to help them learn and get their imaginations growing. It think the tips are great and make a lot of sense.

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  17. I live in Ontario. I feel that Playtime is extremely important for children because it helps to develop their motor skills and imagination. Thanks very much for the 5 tips to Maximize Playtime, I especially like the point on not having out to many toys at the same time, it's one that I need to work on.

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  18. I live in ON. Playtime is SO important to foster creativity and development. The 5 tips are really helpful and make me think about how I will raise my kids.

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  19. I live in Ontario and my grandson would have a ball with all these giant blocks, I totally agree on the 5 tips!!

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  20. I live in Manitoba & playtime is extremely important, great tips

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  21. I'm in Ontario and yes playtime is very important, kids learn through play.

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  22. I am in BC and playtime is very important. I think that Routine And Predictability is soooo important.
    jan

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  23. I live in Nova Scotia. I think playtime is very important. So many great tips I love the Create Independent Playtime

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  24. Play time is very important. Healthy for the body and imagination.
    I live in Ontario
    (Debbie W)

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  25. I'm in ON! Playtime is so very important, my girl loves to play with others but is also very good at keeping herself busy! Great tips, keeping toys minimal is something I always keep on top of as well.

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  26. from On and play IS soooo very important and your tips are great

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  27. Your tips are on point. Im in ontario and love playtime
    Marla

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  28. Winnipeg. Play is exreamly important. Kids learn so much!

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  29. I Love in Ontario and believe playtime is very important. It builds independencecand creativity. Thectips were great!

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  30. I live in NB and I definitely think that play is important as it helps build creativity, abstract thinking and independence/cooperation.

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  31. I'm in BC. I think playtime is very important. It gives them the chance to experiment, be creative and just have fun.

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Thank you for commenting :)