Harvard and LEGO: Brain-building Through Play

Photo by Kris Len Lu

Harvard University Center on the Developing Child website offers suggestions, developed with support from the LEGO Foundation, for “brain-building through play”, offering activities designed infants, toddlers and children.

The activities for younger children are designed for adults to engage in with children; activities for later ages allow the adults to step back and allow children greater independence in their play as the transition to playing more often with peers.

The free downloadable worksheets, available in English and Spanish, include:

6 Games to Play with Babies (6 months):

Peekaboo:

“Trot Trot to Boston”

“Pat-a-Cake!”

Hiding Games

Conversation Games

Fingerplays

5 Games to Play with Babies (9 months):

“Dickory Dean”

Baby See, Baby Do!

Where Is It?

Boom!

Grocery Store Explore

5 Games to Play with Toddlers (12 months):

Toddler See, Toddler Do!

Explore on the Floor

“It’s For You!”

Dump and Fill

Simple Hide and Seek

5 Games to Play with Toddlers (18 months):

Just Like You!

Making Chores Fun

Finger Plays and Songs

Memory Game

Matching and Sorting Games

6 Games to Play with Toddlers (2-3 years):

Active Songs

Imitation Game: Follow the Leader

Matching & Sorting Games

Counting Games

Puzzles

Be the Narrator

5 Games and Activities for Children (4-7 years):

Freeze Dance

Simon Says

I Spy

Opposites Bingo

“Continue the Story” Game

Games and Activities for Children (8-12 years):

Puzzles and Brain Teasers

Strategy and Fantasy Games

Organized Sports

Musical Instruments and Singing

Dancing