The stages of block play are fascinating! Studies show that no matter what age children are introduced to blocks, they follow the same stages in the same sequence.

Children who are introduced to block play in toddlerhood will spend more time in the early stages while older children might even move through them in a day, but once you know what to look for, you'll start seeing it play out right in your own home.

It's worth getting familiar with these stages because understanding where your child is can help you better support their learning through play!

Stage 1: Carrying and Transporting

The first stage of block play is the only one that’s specific to a particular age group and it’s all about getting acquainted with the blocks themselves. Very young children, typically under two, will pick them up, carry them around, and move them from place to place.

At this stage blocks generally aren't used for construction at all, but they might end up in a pile far from their shelf. Older children usually skip this stage. 

Stage 2: Stacking and Rows

Next, children begin building simple structures by stacking blocks or making rows. This stage is full of repeated movements and organization.

There's a lot of repetition at this stage, and that's completely intentional. Kids are experimenting, organizing, and learning through the rhythm of repeated movement while getting comfortable with the material in their play. 

Stage 3: Bridging

The next stage of block play is bridging. Bridging is when a child places two blocks apart from each other and balances a third block across the top. It requires more spatial reasoning than stacking since they have to figure out just the right spacing for the top block to rest without falling, a genuine problem-solving moment! 

One important thing to note: starting here, the stages of block play continue and build upon each other. A child doesn't stop stacking when they start building bridges. Instead, they add bridging to their bank of possible ways to build. This is true for every stage that follows.

Stage 4: Enclosures

Next, children begin to build enclosures. Enclosures are exactly what they sound like, using blocks to create a contained space. Think rooms, fences, or a pen for toy animals - although your child will probably not name their structures just yet!

Bridging and enclosing are the first two real building challenges children tackle, and they often show up around the same time (and sometimes in reverse order). If your child has started bridging, enclosures are probably just around the corner! 

Stage 5: Patterns and Symmetry

Once children are really comfortable with their blocks, builds start looking more intentional. They begin placing blocks with an eye for balance and symmetry, creating patterns and adding decorative touches to their structures. It's really fun to watch!

This is also a great time to consider adding smaller detail blocks or loose parts to your collection. Kids at this stage love having accessories to work with.

Stage 6: Naming Structures

Shortly after or even along with stage 5 (patterns & symmetry), children often begin to give their structures names related to their function in dramatic play. "This is a house." "That's the hospital." The building becomes a setting, and the play takes on a whole new dimension.

Stage 7: Representation

The final stage in the block play sequence is representation. This is when children begin to build with specific real-life structures in mind. Their home, their school, a place they’ve recently visited, even locations from favorite stories. This is the most advanced stage of block play and a pretty remarkable thing to witness. It’s a sign of just how much thinking and processing is happening through play.

These stages aren't a measuring stick for your child’s skills with blocks! They're simply a helpful way to understand what your child is working on at any given moment.

Knowing where your child is in the progression gives you useful context and that context makes it easier to support their play - whether that means adding more blocks, introducing new accessories, or bringing in some fresh reference materials to spark their imagination.