Preview draft. Activities have not been tested with caregivers.
Learning · The activity desk
Large-block finger maze
Arrange block walls and guide a finger through a path.
Let's play →
A little plan for play
Open interactive activity →Add to play journal →What you need
Large building blocks suitable for your child's age and a flat play surface
Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.
Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.
Set up: Set out a handful of large blocks with room to make a path.
Adult's role: Help keep the walls low and stable. Ask your child to test the path rather than showing the answer immediately.
Let's make it happen
- Lay blocks on the surface to make low walls, leaving a finger-wide path with a start and an end.
- Move one finger through the path. If a wall blocks the way, move a block and try again.
- Add one turn or a dead end, then invite someone to solve your new maze.
Make it simpler: Make two parallel rows of blocks with a straight path between them.
Clean up: Collect every block and return it to its container.
Use only blocks rated for your child's age, with adult supervision. Keep small pieces away from younger children and mouths.