Block Building is a classic than can help to work on:
· Fine motor development
· Visual perceptual skills
· Textural input
· Various shapes to hold and colors to identify
· Cognition and spatial skills
· Midline play
· Creative play
· Creation and destruction
· Understanding the concept of gravity
· Balance
· Structural building
· Social skills
· Attention skill building
Large blocks like the Melissa and Doug cardboard blocks are great for stepping on and around for all kinds of gross motor skills:
· Balance, agility, coordination
Month by month:
4-6 months: an infant has whole hand grasp
6-7 months: an all fine finger grasp
7-10 months: banging blocks
10-12 months: three finger grasp
10-12 months: infants begin to drop blocks into a container
14-17 months: infants can build a tower of three using one inch cubes
By two years a toddler can build a tower of six cubes