• Problem solving: Sometimes it is intentional: “I want to build X. How do I do that?” Other times it is in-themoment: “To go higher and add to one side, what can I use?”

• Imagination: Children can follow their own plan, or they can share a friend’s vision and work together to create something they never dreamed of.

• Self-expression: Blocks offer many ways for young dual language learners to explore, express themselves, and demonstrate what they are learning across languages.

• Mathematics: Important concepts and skills are practiced and strengthened through block play, including length, measurement, comparison, number, estimation, symmetry, balance.

• Continuity and permanence: Block play engages spatial sense and motor abilities; it can be a solo or a group effort; block creations can stand for an indefinite period of time.

• Creativity: Blocks and other loose parts can be moved freely by children, to be combined and recombined in countless ways.

• Science： Blocks offer opportunities to test hypotheses and build scientific reasoning.

• Self-esteem： Children discover that they have ideas and that they can bring their ideas to life by creating, transforming, demolishing, and re-creating something unique.

• Social and emotional growth： Blocks help children learn to take turns and share materials, develop new friendships, become self-reliant, increase attention span, cooperate with others, and develop self-esteem.

• Development in all areas： Block play requires fine and gross motor skills. Blocks enhance children’s problem-solving abilities, mathematics skills, and language and literacy abilities. And constructing “creations” builds selfesteem and feelings of success.