Four Foam Block Building Ideas

I do my best to offer my children a variety of options to facilitate their play, for example, we have six different kinds of blocks, each with their own unique features.  The latest addition to our collection was the foam block.  While offering a variety of blocks has its benefits, using each kind of block in different ways offers additional advantages for building math and critical thinking skills.  Lately we've been using our foam blocks in some non-traditional ways.

Floating Structures

All you need to add is water, and bubbles if desired!  Experiment on this unstable surface and children will find out how different balancing works on water.

Most children start out using blocks for the sole purpose of knocking them down when they are babies and toddlers, so I added a baster, and my kids used water pressure as a way to knock down their structures.  We took turns building and trying to knock each other's creations down.  Knocking stuff down is still fun no matter how old you are!

Tracing Layouts and Letters

Instead of building vertically, we built horizontally on our driveway and added chalk.  We traced and colored different layouts, named the "towns" we created, and then used the blocks to forms letters to trace out the names.  The same can be done on large paper with marker, crayons, or paint!

Sticky Buildings

Contact paper's sticky surface is strong enough to hold lightweight blocks, and can stand up to many changes in building plans.  Tape down all sides of your contact paper sticky side up on the floor, or a wall.  I like to use painters tape so my walls don't suffer!

Shaving Cream Layering

For this particular activity, it helps to encourage your children to think like a brick layer. Offer a variety of spreading tools from your kitchen, add a bowl or pile of shaving cream, and start layering.  Shaving cream creates a bond and makes the blocks stick together a little, just like water does with these blocks.

I hope you try out one or some of these great alternatives for building and creating with foam blocks.  We had fun exploring new territory with our building.  Wouldn't your future carpenters, engineers, or architects enjoy a new sensory experience with blocks?

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