Are you ready to embark on a creative adventure where a simple shape, when repeated, can create graceful structures? Say hello to "Plus Plus," an award-winning toy that not only ignites children's imagination but also cultivates essential soft skills. Let us delve down to understand how a simple shape, yet a unique design, can bring endless possibilities while encouraging creativity, patience, and focus in young learners.
“One Shape, Endless Possibilities”
"Plus Plus" is not just a building toy; it's a gateway to boundless creativity. Imagine having parts shaped like plus signs -in multiple colors- that connect seamlessly in all orientations, allowing you to craft everything from dinosaurs to trucks, spaceships to flamingos, and even intricate dolls or miniature roadways. Moreover, if you lay them flat and connect them to beautiful “pixel” puzzles. What sets "Plus Plus" apart is their soft yet sturdy material, with the pieces securely interlocking, enabling children to bring their imaginative visions to life with ease. What's even more remarkable is that despite the blocks' secure interlocking, they can be easily disassembled, encouraging trial and error. This versatility fosters a sense of wonder and exploration, providing a canvas for unique creations.
When looking for scientific evidence one can find that building block toys are utilized even as psychometric tools. This is because of their symbolic affordance, which means that one can easily assign meaning to them (e.g. four blocks oriented in a square, and one on top, can be seen as a small house). Due to that fact, building block toys have been highly associated with not only skills like construction knowledge and problem-solving, but also -equally strongly associated- with curiosity and creativity (Trawick-Smith, Russell, & Swaminathan, 2011). The “Plus-Plus” toy empowers children to dream, design, and build to their heart's content. But it offers more than just entertainment; it can serve as a valuable tool for soft skills practice.
Cultivating Creativity
Creativity is a precious skill that allows children to think outside the box, solve problems, and express themselves uniquely (Fazylova & Irina, 2016). With "Plus Plus," children have the ideal platform to explore their creative potential. As they assemble, disassemble, and build intricate structures, they learn to experiment, innovate, and adapt their designs, all while fostering a sense of pride in their creations.
Fostering Mindful Play and Focus
"Plus Plus" encourages mindful play, where children immerse themselves fully in the creative process. The focus required to connect each piece promotes mindfulness, a valuable skill that can enhance concentration and reduce stress. A recent study investigated building block toys and their effects on children's play, and their findings demonstrated “attention to detail” as an important factor associated with these types of toys (Aksoy & Belgin Aksoy, 2022). We can safely say that building complex "Plus Plus" structures requires patience and focus. Children will learn the art of perseverance as they work through the intricate details of their creations. This process instills a sense of accomplishment and teaches them the value of persistence in achieving their goals.
Connecting with Friends
"Plus Plus" isn't just about solo play. Children can trade pieces with friends, collaborate on ambitious projects, and even host "Plus Plus" building parties, fostering social connections and teamwork.
In conclusion, "Plus Plus" is more than just a toy; it's a catalyst for creativity, patience, and focus. It empowers children to explore their imaginations, cultivate essential life skills, and embark on a journey of self-expression and innovation. So, embrace "Plus Plus" and watch your child's creativity soar to new heights.
This article was created by Morphoses, the leading edtech platform focused on soft skills development. Don't wait another second – secure a spot for your learner & enroll in one of our Curricula today! Explore our Curricula here.
References:
Aksoy, M., & Belgin Aksoy, A. (2022). An investigation on the effects of block play on the creativity of children. Early Child Development and Care, 193(1), 139–158. doi:10.1080/03004430.2022.2071266
Fazylova, S., & Irina, R. (2016). Development of creativity in schoolchildren through art. Czech-polish historical and pedagogical journal, 8(2).
Trawick-Smith, J., Russell, H., & Swaminathan, S. (2011). Measuring the effects of toys on the problem-solving, creative, and social behaviours of preschool children. Early Child Development and Care, 181(7), 909–927. doi:10.1080/03004430.2010.503892
