Building Blocks can Help Children Score Better in Math

Playing with certain toys such as blocks can help children improve their spatial abilities, which could help them do better at math and science later in life, a new study found.

 Spatial ability is a kind of reasoning ability that requires thinking in three dimensions.

The study was conducted by researchers at University of Delaware and Temple University and included over a hundred 3-year-olds. Researchers found that children who did well in games related with building blocks had better grades in math.

During spare time, children often tend to engage themselves in activities that require some sort of mathematical and spatial capabilities. Previous research, has also supported the idea that math can be made easier for children by encouraging them to play certain games.

"Research in the science of learning has shown that experiences like block building and puzzle play can improve children's spatial skills and that these skills support complex mathematical problem solving in middle and high school. This is the first research to demonstrate a similar relationship in preschoolers," said Brian N. Verdine, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Delaware and one of the study's authors, according to a news release.

In this study, the scientists assessed children's spatial ability by block-building tasks. Their math ability was tested on the basis of specialized tests designed for three-year-olds, which ranged from counting to complex math functions such as subtraction.

The study is published in the journal Child Development.