More from the MuseumTour expert:
Benefits of Manipulative Play:
Physical Benefits:
- children use their fine motor skills
- strengthens hand and wrist muscles
- improves eye-hand coordination
Language Benefits:
- children often talk as they are playing
- expand vocabulary (learn words for shapes, colors etc.)
Emotional Benefits:
- children get a sense of achievement and pride
- learn to cope with small does of failure and try again
Cognitive Benefits
- children learn to concentrate and persevere
- learn about color, shape, size
- learn to solve problems
- learn about structural integrity
- sparks imagination
Social Benefits
- parallel play (children play side by side)
- learn to cooperate and collaborate on projects