FM.D.62 BUILDS A TOWER OF 6 CUBES
Keep in mind that in normal development over 6 months elapses between building a two-block tower and building a six-block tower. The steps below will show you how to develop your child’s building skills gradually.
How to Assess
Materials: Six 3 cm cubes.
Method: Put one block on the table and hand your child a second block. Say ‘Put block on block’. Continue until he has built a six-cube tower. Do not hold the base of the tower.
Score plus if your child builds a tower of 6 cubes, without physical assistance, in 2 out of 3 trials.
How to Teach
The steps for teaching are obvious!
- Builds a tower of 3 cubes.
- Builds a tower of 4 cubes.
- Builds a tower of 5 cubes.
- Builds a tower of 6 cubes.
If your child wants to knock the tower down before it is finished (a natural impulse!) put all the blocks you want him to use where he can see them and tell him ‘All the blocks on’. Then say ‘You’ve finished!’ and let him topple the tower if he wants to.
If your child is tipping his tower over by pushing the blocks down too hard, use the method described for FM.D.45.
Never hold the base of the tower steady for him. It will only give him a false sense of what building is about. If he gets frustrated when his tower collapses, build it again for him up to the point where the accident happened, demonstrating as you go the technique for successful building.
Playtime and Round-the-house Activities
As for FM.D.45, aiming for higher structures.
Remembering and Extending
This skill is extended in FM.D.96. Perhaps you and your child would like to rest on your laurels for a little while, and enjoy playing with blocks in a less structured way.