TOYSRLAGOS LEARNING CENTRE.(TLC)
ToysRLagos learning center is an informative part of Toys R Lagos where teachers and parents alike are educated.
Schools must be trained about toys as an effective tool for extended learning. Teachers are taught the analysing functions of toys,importance,structure,facts and other details inclusive.
Why are BUILDING BLOCKS or Lego Blocks so instrumental in learning?
Toys R Lagos encourages that every home or school building where children are should have building blocks with space and recreational time for children to build and explore their creativity.
WHY THEN IS IT IDEAL FOR CHILDREN TO HAVE AND PLAY WITH BUILDING BLOCKS:
Here are some of the reason
1.IMAGINATION: with building blocks children can create their own plan and also share friends perspective,working together to create something extraordinary.
2.PROBLEM SOLVING:They can solve problems on purpose ie having an idea of the type of structure they want to build and then asking how do I do it? While at other times it is without purpose they just keep adding blocks to make it grow higher by asking themselves,what can I use?
3.SELF-EXPRESSION:Playing with building blocks enhances children's communication skills.it provides them with various ways to explore ,express themselves and demonstrate what they are learning.
4.MATHEMATICS: Mathematical ideas and skills such as length,measurement,comparison,number,estimation,symmetry,identification and balance are practiced and enhanced through playing with blocks.
5.CREATIVITY:Blocks can be arranged and structured in various patterns,to be assembled and disassembled in countless ways.
6.SCIENCE:Blocks provide opportunities for children to think and act like scientist.with blocks they are able to put to test their ideas and also develop scientific sense of reasoning.
7.LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT: As children construct,they like to verbalize what they are creating.This is a great opportunity for developing vocabulary and language and also becoming outspoken because through this process new concepts and words may come up.
8.SELF-ESTEEM:With blocks children learn to have confidence in themselves. They learn to believe in their ideas that they can apply ideas to life situations and also bring their ideas to life by creating,transforming and restructuring something exceptional.
9.DEVELOPMENT OF FINE AND GROSS MOTOR SKILLS:Blocks enhances children's fine motor skills such as drawing,writing,clapping,pulling,picking and holding,and gross motor skills like sitting, crawling,walking, running, lifting and kicking.
WHAT ARE THE ACTIVITIES THAT KIDS CAN ENGAGE IN WITH BUILDING BLOCKS
1.Block tower: here children are provided with blocks and asked to build a tower. During the process you inform the child to keep count of the number of blocks being added. This activity enhances their Mathematical skills.
2 Block drawing from picture: in this activity children are given a piece of paper to draw a building in the shape of blocks.They are expected to colour each block using a different colour.This aids them with colour identification and recognition of shapes
3.Fill in the shapes:for this activity shapes are drawn on the floor for the children and they are expected to fill up the shapes with blocks.This helps them learn the number of sides each shape has and make detailed observation about each of them.
4.measuring activity:line is drawn on the floor and then children are expected to arrange blocks on the line and then count.
5.copying the building blocks:for this the blocks are divided equally between you and the child.And then as you build with the block, the child copies you and does same.
Other block activities include:block painting,play dough block building, block printing,alphabet learning block,house,block decoration, block fart making, block colour identification, block pathway counting activity.
HOW TO ENCOURAGE KIDS WHILE PLAYING WITH BLOCKS
1.Be part of the playing process:children learn better with blocks when someone demonstrates how to build with them.They also learn faster when we discuss with them e.g what size of block do you need for that space?How many blocks do we need to build a tower?
2 provide them with specific building task:you can print a picture of a house and then ask them to build one using the blocks.
3.stimulate interest in toy blocks by providing children with character toys and other accessories: is your child a reluctant builder?Then you can add small world characters,vehicles, real objects to make a land,grass,flowers, mini toys from dolls house or something similar can change play completely.
4.combine block play with story time and role play
5.provide them with building block activities.