About Me

Talking About Sculpting With Clay

Hi there, I’m Bennie Rue. Welcome. I am here to talk to you about making sculptures out of clay. When I started working with clay, I used rudimentary techniques to create my sculptures. Unfortunately, the creations did not stand up to the test of time due to a lack of knowledge about the right techniques to use. Over time, I discovered tips and tricks that helped me make lasting creations. I will use this site to share the knowledge I gained about properly using sculpting clay. I invite you to try out the techniques I share to create your own works of art. Thanks.

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Talking About Sculpting With Clay

Big Building Blocks: Fostering Development And Learning Through Play

by Gloria Perkins

Big building blocks, often made from lightweight and durable foam, offer children an engaging and enjoyable way to learn and develop essential skills. These oversized blocks encourage creative play, collaboration, and problem-solving while promoting physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. 

Physical Development

Playing with big building blocks helps children develop crucial gross motor skills as they lift, carry, stack, and arrange the blocks to create their structures. This physical activity strengthens muscles, improves balance and coordination, and promotes overall physical fitness.

In addition, the manipulation of the blocks encourages the development of fine motor skills, such as grasping, pushing, and pulling, which are essential for everyday tasks like writing, eating, and buttoning clothes.

Cognitive Development

Big building blocks stimulate cognitive development by encouraging children to think critically and creatively as they construct their structures. This form of play requires problem-solving and planning because children must determine how to arrange the blocks to achieve their desired outcome. 

Building with blocks also helps improve spatial awareness and understanding of basic geometry. Children experiment with different shapes and sizes to create their masterpieces. 

The blocks introduce early math concepts, such as counting, sorting, and comparing, as well. Of course, these concepts are introduced in a fun and interactive way, which is much more appropriate than a worksheet for young children.

Social-Emotional Development

Playing with big building blocks offers ample opportunities for kids to develop their social-emotional skills. When children work together to create structures, they learn essential teamwork and collaboration skills, including sharing, taking turns, and negotiating. 

Furthermore, this cooperative play encourages communication and the development of language skills. They must consider one another when they discuss ideas and plans.

Perseverance 

Anyone who's had a structure knocked over as a child understands that big blocks encourage resilience and an overcoming mindset. Kids inevitably face challenges and setbacks during the construction process, which they must overcome if they're going to achieve the structure they want. 

By overcoming these obstacles and adjusting their approach, children learn the value of persistence and adaptability.

Creativity and Imagination

Colorful and differently sized big building blocks serve as a blank canvas for children's creativity and imagination. Kids can make anything their minds can envision. From towering skyscrapers to intricate castles, children will explore different themes, scenarios, and ideas through their constructions. 

Imaginative play like this not only fosters creative thinking but also helps children develop a sense of identity and self-expression as they bring their unique ideas to life. For more information on big building blocks, contact a professional near you.

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