ThinkingPreschoolers38 Comments
This may not be your typical puzzle that you think of for young kids. But this block floor puzzle can be done anywhere when you have some blocks handy!
We’ve come back to this block activity over and over throughout the years.
Below, I’m sharing when Louis did the activity, as well as when we first did it with Henry a few years back.
As I was scrolling through photos of LEARN: Hands on Learning Plans for Your Preschooler, Louis caught eye of Henry doing the block floor puzzle activity and exclaimed:
“Let’s do that activity, Mom!”
Of course. We went right to it.
This is a great activity for kids to learn about spatial concepts, and also how big an area is. It’s fantastic in so many ways.
But I just love it as a quick breather activity that keeps them busy, and gets them thinking.
As I mentioned, Henry did this in the past, you can see his version below. We’ve done it several times, we tried it with larger blocks for George awhile back. The larger blocks make it easier for younger kids, and is definitely a faster activity.
You can do this ‘fill in the shape’ block activity with different shapes. But just for simplicity sake, a square or rectangle is easiest (for me to tape, and for them to fill).
I taped this square on the floor, using painter’s tape. I always, always recommend using painter’s tape, and please test it on your floor before taping all over it.
You can always tape it onto a large piece of butcher or art paper instead of directly on the floor.
We made it about a foot and a half square. Make it smaller or bigger, depending on the time you have and the number of blocks you have to fill it in.
Louis sat down and I started filling in the square with a few blocks to get him started. (Here’s an affiliate link to the blocks we have.)
He took it from there.
He liked to stack the blocks on top of each other, too. Which is totally fine. I did remind him a few times though that the point of the activity it to fill in the entire square, so we may need those blocks later.
George later joined us. He would have joined us earlier, but he had a sassing moment and said the activity we were going to do would probably be stupid anyway.
He missed out on the beginning then, and got to join us in the middle. He was then eager to play!
As he’s a little older, his method was much more thoughtful.
He chose blocks of all the same shape as size (until he ran out of those at least).
He also counted how many blocks it took to fill in one length of the square (18 1/2 in case you were wondering…).
They both continued on… filling in their square block floor puzzle.
It may have turned into a race to see who could fill their square first…
It may have also turned into a fight as to see who got the blocks… because we were running out of the little ones…
But all in all, they played very nicely, quietly, and cooperatively, with just the few hiccups.
Towards the end, they did run out of these kind of blocks.
George made the observation that all he’d need was the one big, big block and it would fill in the rest of his.
Well, it almost filled it in… it took a couple of those big blocks. (Here’s an affiliate link to the big blocks we have.)
Louis followed suit, and filled in the rest of his square with the big blocks too.
So they filled the square with blocks!
And shortly thereafter, they were wrecked and blocks were everywhere… oh well, pick up time while I get dinner on the table.
Flashback: Henry filling his block floor puzzle
On a whim, we found a way to make our own puzzles!
On ‘one of those days’ I needed something to have Henry do to get out of his slump I started putting painters tape down on the floor… Not really sure what to do with it though.
I made squares.
Henry decided they were fields and ‘harvested’ these fields, then put up wooden cylindrical blocks for bins.
Getting those blocks out gave me an idea! We filled the squares with blocks, and made a homemade puzzle!
This totally got him out of his slump (except when George came over to move all the blocks).
Henry had to think about what he was doing. I loved this activity for that.
It wasn’t something he was used to.
Learning something new: problem solving.
Putting together a puzzle in his own way!
There was no right or wrong way to do it. Just to fill up the square, with no open holes.
Of course, once the squares were filled with blocks, Henry harvested them away, too.
I am feeling the need to link to other harvesting activities, where Henry breaks out the combine during his activity:
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Edna says
Good job
Edna says
Fantastic
Michal says
I did a variation: Instead of taping onto the floor or table, I lay a plain piece of paper on the table and my daughter simply had to cover the paper entirely with blocks (but ONLY the paper). While she was working on that, I grabbed an assortment of blocks and traced them on a different paper, so once she finished filling up the whole piece of paper, I could “up the challenge” by having her match block shapes to the shapes I had traced. This “upping the challenge” can get rather complex if you have older kids and want to go into full tangram mode, or you can keep it basic for the younger ones. Anyway, just thought I’d share the idea that you don’t have to have tape on hand to create an area for your kiddo to fill with blocks. :-)
Rachel says
What a fun extension idea! Also a great way to get older and younger kiddos working together! Thank you for sharing!
Elizabeth J. Johnson says
I definitely agree with your points. As a mom, I think toy blocks and other construction toys can change the way babies think. Building things will stimulate creativity, and sharpen their crucial skills. However, it’s quite hard for me to encourage our baby girls to play with blocks haha. They just love cooking and dolls
Sharon Kareddula says
This is a great idea. You are so creative Jamie. My almost 3 yr old loves blocks. I tried to be a little more creative ; we made a big square with pipe cleaners and taped them which was an activity by itself and then filling the blocks inside.
Catherine @ Parentinn says
Thanks for sharing this amazing idea, Jamie. It’s simple for my kids to play, but can enhance creativity and practice problem solving.
Kabita Thapa says
Marvellous, this idea takes playing with blocks to a different level. Thanks.
Kaz Hunt says
Fantastic. Am definitely going to try this with J tomorrow – a super rainy day activity to challenge and excite little minds. Thanks :)
jeannine: waddlee-ah-chaa says
This is fabulous. I love how it is spontaneous and simple and yet so engaging. Wonderful problem solving activity!
Going to pin and tweet this one!
Jamie Reimer says
Thanks Jennine! Simple often works the best around here!
[Off to check out your site because Waddlee-Ah-Chee is such a blast from my past!! Brings back great memories!]
vankristie says
Go State!!
Kids craft ideas says
Great idea for kids! i will buy it for my kids, thanks for sharing…
Dianne says
Great idea! I'm going to have to keep some masking tape on hand for the next time we have one of "those" days.
Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas says
love this idea Jamie – so simple yet such great play and a fab way to practice problem solving! Thanks for linking up to the Sunday Showcase & I shared this on our FB page too!
Bern
Karen Dawkins says
Absolutely brilliant!!!!
Rachel says
I love this idea. It is so creative, yet gives plenty of opportunity for kids to do it their own way.
faith2raise says
Can I pin this picture on my Pinintrest? I love the idea and want to have a reminder.
Deborah says
This is awesome!
Jackie H. says
Fun! My son likes to line up his legos all around the tray side of our ottoman. He'll have to try fitting pieces in the middle of his box. Good critical thinking play!
happyhooligans says
What a brilliantly simple idea!
Brooke @ Let Kids Create says
My 4 year old can't do enough puzzles, she loves them. We will try this out today! Thanks!
Jill @ A Mom With A Lesson Plan says
LOVE IT!!!
Rebekah says
This is a brilliant idea! It could lead to all sorts of other shapes and picture block puzzles.
Melissa @ The Chocolate Muffin Tree says
Great idea! A new way to play with blocks is always welcome. My daughter was placing rocks on our block towers the other day! Thanks for sharing!
Mom and Kiddo says
Mere words cannot express my love for this idea.