Push and Stack Blocks

1. 1

   Around 15 months, your baby may be fascinated by how objects stack. Turn that interest into a simple block game.

2. 2

   Build upward while saying, “Dad made a very tall house!” to draw your baby’s attention.

3. 3

   Knock it down gently or invite your baby to push, then watch the blocks fall and scatter.

4. 4

   Rebuild the base and hand your baby one block to add.

5. 5

   Offer a separate set so your baby can stack or arrange blocks in their own way.

6. 6

   Repeat the build-and-fall sequence as long as it remains interesting.

7. 7

   If alignment is difficult, steady the tower lightly while leaving the placing action to your baby.

What to notice

• Places one block on top of another Emergent Mathematical Thinking
• Claps after knocking down the blocks and looks to you for praise Sense of Identity and Belonging

Tips

• As your baby grows, vary the play by building higher or trying simple arrangements.
• If your baby wants to knock the blocks down again and again, let them enjoy it. Repeatedly building and toppling gives them useful experience of how objects fit together and move.

Developmental benefits

• Cognitive: Repeatedly stacking and toppling blocks lets your baby discover how objects can combine and how their positions in space change.