“Building blocks are the blocks of development “!

 With smartphones and the digital world taking over everything: the innocence development and childhood, the old-fashioned building block toys have been under-estimated. This age-old toy is as important as technologically advanced modern games.

Have you ever wondered that blocks play an integral role in maintaining development and act as a precursor of underpinning an understanding of the pattern of development is essential for children to reach their full potential?

You really can't even imagine how basic cubes, blocks, and other shapes of brightly colored wood and plastic. As an integral component of a child's toy box, blocks have staying power because they are so wide-ranging, versatile learning experiences for young children.

 It’s open-ended, creative, and highly evolving Let's take a closer look at reasons why building blocks for kids are such an iconic plaything model

Spatial concepts

Kindergarten learns about spatial awareness when they move, place, and arrange blocks. When children build structures and talk about them, they get a chance to use spatial vocabulary like “under”, “over”, “between”, “on top of” and “inside”,” what”, “where”, hold”.. You can help them practice spatial vocabulary with questions like, “Where did you put the blue block?”, how many blocks have you used?

Improved creativity

Creativity begins early in life when it comes to kids. Their understanding and learning new things are roller caster for kids. Through exposing them to building blocks your kid will be able to start thinking creatively at a tender age. Slowly you will realize that your kids will start creating different structures using the toys. with blocks child will able to create different things which might be creative sometimes ways of telling things.  This will help to stimulate their creative mind. Generally speaking, building blocks offer a great base to encourage a kid’s creative abilities at a tender age.

Enhance mathematical skills 

it has been well documented in many kinds of research that children learn better through doing, through touch and feel. Feeling the blocks and getting to know every corner and edge enhances their ability to learn shapes and maths concepts like size, shape, and weight (depending on the types of blocks). their manipulating skills of hands has also been improved

Building towers and watching it topple over is a great way for children to understand the best use of each block depending on their shape and height. And remember, shapes all have a purpose in this world. Tires are circles, doors are rectangles, and squares are windows. So playing with blocks can help children learn about which shapes are best suited to a particular purpose.

Everyday useful objects shapes have been taught via blocks that enhance memory retention power of kids.

Cooperative play

need I say more? I don’t want to play with him? parents struggle to involve their kids with other kids and teach sharing, helping traits to their children playing with another child/ children can get pretty tricky sometimes, particularly if they want the same toy at the same time. Haven’t we all been there?

The great news is that blocks encourage cooperative play. Children can work with a friend to build something special. Coordinating and negotiating where the blocks will go, which colors to use, how they hope it will function, or look. Lots of talking and navigating through the building process are so valuable to team-building skills and vital for later in life.

Fine Motor Skills 

 firstly, just recapitulating playing with blocks allows children to develop and improve both their fine and gross motor skills. As they reach for, lift, move, manipulate and build with the blocks it strengthens their fingers, hands, and arms. It also assists in developing hand-eye coordination and understanding of hold, picks, and release. Bonus!

Intellectual development

 Unit block building involves concrete operations such as one-to-one correspondence, counting, matching, sorting, fitting blocks to spaces, and using fractional parts of a whole in meaningful relationships, all with that creative child purpose so important to motivation. Unit blocks encourage productive thinking and experimentation; a child often rebuilds until she’s satisfied.you can play and make your child learn many games.

Sense of Responsibility

Blocks are usually sold in groups of multiples and once children are provided with them, they inculcate a sense of responsibility by making efforts not to lose them or separate them. They learn to collect and stack back into the box and this develops their sense of ownership and organization as well. This will make your child realize the organization’s skills.

Imagination

Blocks are not inherently representative of building-like structures, even though they’re often used to construct models of them. This means children can imagine them to be whatever they want, encouraging creative play. Block play supports children’s social-emotional development and also teaches critical skills in problem-solving, math, engineering, creative thinking, and more. Blocks provide great learning experiences in our classrooms, but they are also an activity you can easily do at home. Just make sure your children have plenty of space to build and be active!

Emotional Development

Development toward personality integration Strong, positive feelings about the self in many roles and many skills have improved with block, Ability to meet new situations with resourcefulness that is the ability to encounter many situations  Ability to sustain interest and overcome frustration because it helps in achieving all aspects of development .the child may learn the concept of waiting, overcome fear, learn the passion of victory, learn the ability to fight.   Achieving an openness and sensitivity to an array of feelings in oneself and in others (humor, sadness, joy, tension, anger, excitement, peace, compassion. etc.) and appropriate, Conscious self-control Joy and vitality toward an intuitive/rational, loving view of one’s world.

Cognitive Development

Relationship thinking (cause and effect; simple classifying; the relatedness of objects, feelings, activities) Concrete use of counting and one-to-one correspondence, awareness and use of simple shapes by which children can communicate with parents and peer group about shapes learning concept, single attribute classification, and functional awareness of simple fractions and multiples of the hands-on unit block Knowing and using colors with purpose and satisfaction Increased joy and skill in discovery, in active learning, in striving to find information needed for one purpose. Pleasure and competence in effective communication (in talking, in listening, in reflecting the value of others’ thinking) Experiencing one’s own and others’ intuitive knowledge with increasing respect and emotional strength has improved

Perseverance

Most importantly certainly not least, and my favorite role of blocks is perseverance

I have seen parents, children, and students how they give up easily when challenged or unsure. It is a really important skill in LIFE to be persistent when faced with challenges or problems to solve. Building with blocks requires perseverance determination, endurance, and patience when the tower keeps falling when more blocks need to complete the building, or the shape doesn't look quite right.

Your child will have an inner voice as we all have, we don’t know how it develops but if I talk about building block activity Yes! many things which I mentioned above  can be achieved  in your child 

Playing with the blocks help your child to learn to play and to collaborate!

The more your child is exposed to new ventures the more he can grow with resilience and can become an abstract thinker!

Now after understanding all about block go to market start playing with your kids to help them to grow explore and create!

I am attaching a link from where you can buy blocks else you can go to the market to purchase but trust me to try this you and your child bond will also become strong and else everything you will experience!

Happy learning!

“Small things lead to big changes”! Allen Hershkowitz

Many of your child’s daily activities—like getting dressed, eating, and writing, washing, holding, picking —require control of small muscles in the hands. We call these skills fine motor skills.!

When thinking about Fine motor skills, these are the skills that involve a pure use of the small muscles of the body which control the hand, fingers, and thumb.that means all the refined precise movements performed majorly finger thumb and hand muscles. Fine Motor Skills are the skills used when you move your hand to do multiple tasks.

Fine motor skill efficiency significantly influences the quality of the task outcome as well as the speed of task performance.

“Fine motor skills have an impact later on maths, science and reading achievements “!

Fine motor skills are integral to a child’s development as they play a crucial role in the child’s ability to perform everyday self-care and school activities like writing, feeding oneself, buttoning, and zippering, opening lunch box, holding a spoon, writing and utilizing scissors. If these skills are inadequately developed, it may impact the child overall development, self-esteem, and dependency level as their ability to complete basic life skills is compromised. Like any muscle, these small muscles in the hand need to be built up to develop strength and dexterity

These abilities gradually develop through experience and exposure to a variety of toys, materials, and even foods. We, as parents or caregivers, can help this process by encouraging children to play, explore, and interact with a variety of items. 0-5 age period is the crucial developmental stage where these skills are acquired. How your child develops in this period will play a key role in how they progress through the rest of their life!

Fine motor skills are crucial!

“Its like tea without tea leaves ”! As tea is incomplete without tea leaves, similarly fine motor skills serve as the key role in the development of the child no motor how many milestones have child achieved but if he lags behind in any of the milestones its needs to intervene first and carefully examined.

Difficulties can often be noticed when a child avoids participating in certain activities at home or preschool. At times difficulties are not recognized until the higher demands of fine motor skills at school required for tasks such as handwriting and cutting.

Children who have developmental disabilities and physical disabilities may have greater difficulties with fine motor performance and activities due to the quality of their movements and control. Difficulties with fine motor skills often aren’t identified until preschool when teachers see that kids are struggling. There are things schools can do to help, however.

How can you tell if a child has fine motor skill difficulties!

• Avoidance and/or disinterest of fiddly finger skills (and has tasks listed above)
• Preferring physical activity (again to avoid sit down tasks)
• Interest in ‘passive’ activities such as IT (e.g. watching TV an IPAD that don’t require Fine Motor skills)
• No interest in pencil or scissors skills
• Being ‘bossy’ in play and asking others to “draw a cat for me”
• Not persisting in the face of a challenge (e.g. asking parents to fix a problem without physically trying to fix it themselves)
• Waiting for parents to dress them or clean their teeth rather than trying themselves
• Refusal to use a stylus with the IPAD and keyboards.

Developing fine motor skills for preschoolers begins quite a few years before they turn five. As soon as a baby begins to grab at a simple object, they are beginning to hone their fine motor skills. They certainly haven’t mastered them yet, but they’re trying. And eventually, they end up succeeding.it means some milestones are present at birth only when you see your child grabs your hand. As they become toddlers, their fine motor skills become even more precise. They begin to refine their gripping skills and the various muscles in their hands for grasping.

Developing fine motor skills for toddlers is so important. It takes work to strengthen the required muscles in the fingers, and as parents, we can help to give them the opportunity to practice these skills.

Development of fine motor skills

6 months

• Uses both hands to reach for, and grasp, objects. Will occasionally use one hand.
• Uses the whole hand to grasp the object.
• Can pass an object from one hand to the other.

12 months

• Picks up small objects.
• Uses pincer grasp with thumb and index finger.
• Reaching and grasping actions becoming one smooth action.

18 months

• Picks up small objects quickly using a fine pincer grasp.
• Holds pencil at middle or top with whole hand or attempt at thumb and fingers grip.
• Beginning to show the favored hand.

2 years

• can pick up and place tiny objects quickly and accurately.
• Holds pencil near point and uses thumb and fingers grip.
• Can turn single pages in a book.

3 years

• Can build a tower of up to ten blocks using both hands cooperatively.
• Can use a pencil with good control.
• Can cut with toy scissors.

4 years

• Can use blocks to build small bridges on request and small steps on demonstration.
• Can imitate touching each finger with the thumb.
• Can use a pencil with proper grip and control, as an adult.Can touch the tip of each finger to their thumb
• Use fork correctly
• Can cut a big circle with scissor
• Can dress and undress by its own

5 years

• Grasps a pencil correctly
• Begins to print their name
• Copies a triangle shape
• Opens a lock with a key
• Draw a diamond shape when given a model
• Draws a person with at least 6 different body parts
• Can lace their shoes

How does Occupational Therapy help children to develop fine motor skills?

Children or individuals who have significant trouble with performing fine motor skills exercises are often referred to an occupational therapist (OT). The OT works with the child and their parents, caregivers , and/or teachers to formulate a therapy plan to address the child’s individual needs. Depending upon sensory needs associated with children who are lacking behind in fine motor skills occupational therapists, special educators both work synchronizing to adopt different strategies and adaptations to overcome the problems associated with developmental delays, fine motor skills.

Although the therapy differs between individuals, progressing the development of fine motor skills usually involves:

– Identifying which hand is dominant for the child and emphasizing its use to improve performance, whilst also practicing using both hands to complete activities

– Practice using individual fingers (not all fingers at the same time)

– Incorporating the use of pegs or clips in play to promote finger and grasp strength

– Beading, threading or lacing tasks

- Associated difficulties with the children facing right now.

– Tasks involving construction that involve pulling and pushing exercises with the fingers

– Games involving manipulation skills such as Connect 4 or picking up small objects

– Various craft activities using scissors, tape, implements (e.g. jars) with screw lids

- Sensory need associated with the child

– Encouraging participation in fine motor tasks to enhance the enjoyment

Remember no two children think, achieve, learn, and develop alike are not the same. The pattern of development can be different say like one can preceded further days forward others may achieve serval days or week ahead!

If you have any query drop us in comments!

Happy learning!

“Behind every young child who believes in himself is a parent who believed first”. - Mathew Jacobson

In my previous blog, I have shared information regarding meltdowns and tantrums. To effectively deal with meltdowns you must be proactive and not reactive. Understand rather ignoring and misunderstood his emotions, cry, and behavior pattern

Now, before I jump into some strategies, I have a word of warning. Please don’t do all of these immediately when your child starts a meltdown. You need to know what works for your child, what exactly your child wants and what their sensory preferences are. Be cautious about the alarming signs your child gives during meltdowns.

Not every strategy will work for every child, so test them out one at a time to see what works best for your child. I am sure by testing and observing you will definitely understand the preferences

• Use Visual Schedules.

Provide your child with a written schedule of what they will be doing during the day is a great strategy to help reduce meltdowns. Many autistic children struggle with transitions, but, by using a visual schedule, your child can see what is coming up next in their day. It seems difficult but once u made every day its seems easy for your kid to understand a day planner. Like we need newspapers to know what is happening across the world similarly child who is dealing with meltdown need more structured routine.

Sensory ActivitiesThroughout The Day, Especially Heavy Work.

Remember that meltdowns are a response to being overwhelmed by sensory input. By providing your child with lots of sensory activities throughout the day, you can help them regulate their bodies. Like

• take a bubble wrap sheet and use different non-harmful watercolors to stick into his finger tell him to squeeze the bubble sheet by placing it on the table.

• Make a sensory bottle and keep it in a bedroom.

How to make a sensory bottle at home :

The bottle is like your lens. The shape and clarity are important as well as the size and sturdiness. Through time I’ve learned that smaller bottles are best for heavy sensory bottles.It can be tailored to your child’s interests to make it more appealing. For instance, if your child loves the ocean, you can use blue food coloring, blue glitter, and confetti shaped like fish.

Let’s make a themed glittery sensory bottle

First, squeeze corn syrup into an empty water bottle. Use enough to fill one-third of the bottle with the syrup. (Instead of corn syrup, you can use oil,.) Add warm water until it’s about three-quarters full. Next, add a few drops of food coloring and sprinkle in some glitter. Put the lid on the water bottle and shake to mix the ingredients. Once you’re satisfied with how it looks, fill the bottle to the top with water. Put the lid back on and secure it with superglue or hot glue.

Peekaboo” Sensory Bottle With Sand

A “peekaboo” sensory bottle can provide visual and tactile input. It may also help your child stay focused better. You can make this bottle with rice that has been dyed with food coloring or with colored play sand. Put a funnel in the mouth of an empty water bottle and fill it about halfway with sand or rice. Add small toys, like alphabet beads, or mini-erasers.

Then, fill the rest of the bottle with sand or rice, leaving about an inch of room at the top. This gives the contents room to move around and get mixed up. Shake the bottle and then secure the lid with super glue.

If your child is a sensory seeker, she may benefit from heavy work activity using the bottle. The weight of it can soothe her as she turns it around searching for specific letters or objects. You can even make a list of the toys in the bottle. Your child can use it to see if she can find all the items.

Wave Sensory Bottle

Fill an empty water bottle about one-third full of water. Add a few drops of food coloring. Once the food coloring has spread throughout the water, fill the rest of the bottle with baby oil or cooking oil. Secure the lid with super glue. Your child can put the bottle on its side to see the waves or shake it to see the oil and water separate.

These are some very exciting sensory bottles you can make at your home

Calm Down Corners

Calm down corners can be a great calming strategy for autism meltdowns. The basic premise is to have a safe space where your child can calm down that they feel comfortable in. observe any corner of the house with least distractions and that area contains your child most preferred toys, belonging it could be planted empty room depending upon your child need

LED LIGHTS

Use a color-changing LED light or candle and practice taking breaths in and out as the color changes. It’s a great activity for promoting mindfulness and calming techniques. Depending on your child’s interests, Amazon offers an array of color-changing lamps,I am attaching the link below :

https://amzn.to/2gKbjeG

Fidget toys

Hand fidgets toys like fidget spinners, putty, or this unique textured circle fidget set.

Chair push-ups – Get your child to hold on to either side of their chair and push with their arms to lift their bottoms off the seat. This provides proprioceptive input through heavy work

Snake Slither

Lay on your tummy and wiggle along the floor like a slithering snake. It requires a lot of energy and strength to slither across the floor.

Bear Walk

Another classic animal walk. Simply walk on all fours like a bear, keeping your arms and legs fairly straight.

Crab Walk

The crab walk is another childhood classic that involves leaning backward on all fours and then walking around backward

NOISE-CANCELING HEADPHONES

Often times, noises can become too much. Having a good pair of over the ear noise-canceling headphones to block out auditory stimuli or distraction can really help with very soft music depending upon your child like or dislike

CHEWY, CRUNCHY SNACK

While snacks are always good to have on hand, crunchy ones can help because oral proprioceptive input is calming and hungry kids are crankier

Jumping

Try to make a child jump on the trampoline if a trampoline is not available to take two full-size mattresses to make him jump with ball catch and throw activity

Tug of war

Take 3 cotton dupattas and tie them together. Now make a knot of all three dupattas and tie it on one end of the window. Along with your kid stretch the dupatta towards your side.

Don’t wait for the meltdown to happen, follow all the tips activities every day so that child can regulate if a meltdown occurs you and the child is able to manage with the activities.

Use Clear and Simple Messages

For kids with special needs, this may require more than just telling them. You may need to use pictures, role-playing, or gestures to be sure your child knows what he or she is working toward.do not complicate with your needs suppose you want a phone from ur child to tell them clearly e.g please bob bring mine from bed.specify everything.

Keep verbal and visual language simple, clear, and consistent. Explain as simply as possible what behaviors you want to see. Consistency is key, so make sure that grandparents, babysitters, siblings, and teachers are all on board with your messages.

Offer Praise

Encourage accomplishment by reminding your child about what he or she can earn for meeting the goals you've set, whether it's getting stickers, screen time, or listening to a favorite song. And be sure to praise and reward your child for effort as well as success. So a child who refuses to poop in the toilet may be rewarded for using a potty near the toilet.

Another strategy: practice "time-in" — when you catch your child doing something right, praise him or her for it. In certain cases, time-in can be more effective than punishment, because kids naturally want to please their parents. By getting credit for doing something right, they'll likely want to do it again.dont think your child doesn’t understand praise , they are brilliant enough to judge the emotion even if they are not reacting.

Make immediate environment modifications

Take your child out of the current environment and go somewhere for a break or take a “time-in” A change of scenery can help when calming a child. sometimes changing the air is a solution

Give Your Child Reasonable Options/Choices

When a child is frustrated, they often feel like they have lost control of a situation. Offering choices or options can help them feel as though they’ve regained a bit of control.

Teach emotion recognition

Use different emotions with visual tell your child about every emotion and try to make his label what he feels after a day passes.

• Believe in your child

When you believe your child can do something, you empower him or her to reach that goal. The same is true for meltdowns. For example, if your child is too aggressive when playing with other kids, don't stop the play altogether. Instead, work with your child to limit the physicality of the play. You may want to plan for non-physical activities during play dates, like arts and crafts projects. Use discipline where necessary in the form of time-outs, enforced turn-taking, and rules like "no touching" — and provide rewards when your wishes are met.

if you set an expectation in line with your child's abilities, and you believe he or she can accomplish it, odds are it will happen failures are pillars of success. If your efforts don't result in changes, talk to your child’s doctor, therapist, or behavior specialist to help reach your goals.

All one thing in mind!

“ never lose hope Strom make people stronger and never last forever”.

Similarly, meltdowns are storms that make you stronger day by day you just need to be more courageous by giving all possible help you can do. Do not expect what activities you are following will show miracle in a day but practicing all the plans, the improvement, and goals are started achieving.

All the best!

Keep one thing in mind!

“ never loose hope Strom make people stronger and never last forever”.

Similarly, meltdowns are storms that makes you stronger day by day you just need to be more courageous by giving all possible help you can do. Do not expect what activities you are following will show miracle in a day but practicing all the plans, the improvement, and goals are started achieving.