The Building Block Blog

Discover tips, insights, and inspiration for parents and families at every stage of your child’s journey, from infancy through school age. Here, we share expert advice, creative activities, and real-life stories to help you support your little one’s growth, learning, and happiness. Whether you’re looking for parenting guidance, educational resources, or ways to make the most of your child’s time at Nu Building Blocks, you’ll find it all right here, one building block at a time.

Children in safari hats at a table, crafting. Stickers, paper, glue, and colorful walls are in the classroom.
September 6, 2025
Back 2 School week at Nu Building Blocks was full of joy and learning. Enrollment is open—join us at our Open House Fair Block Party on Sept 13!
Children in safari hats at a table, crafting. Stickers, paper, glue, and colorful walls are in the classroom.
September 6, 2025
Back 2 School week at Nu Building Blocks was full of joy and learning. Enrollment is open—join us at our Open House Fair Block Party on Sept 13!
A baby's foot resting on a person's hand with black nail polish. On a fuzzy gray blanket.
July 28, 2025
When it comes to choosing a daycare for your infant, there’s no decision more important—or more personal. From nurturing environments to strong safety measures, the right childcare center should offer more than supervision; it should support your baby’s development and give you peace of mind.
child reaching out lovingly to his father
July 1, 2025
Help your child avoid summer learning loss with practical tips to keep kids engaged, curious, and learning all year long. Discover fun activities for every age.
Woman and child kneeling on a cobblestone street, embracing. Cars and a van are in the background.
By Patricia Solomon January 6, 2019
Preparing for the First Day
A woman with glasses guides a young boy stacking colorful wooden blocks at a table in a playroom setting.
By Patricia Solomon December 5, 2018
Professor Tina Bruce states, “play transforms children because it helps them to function beyond the here and now. They can become involved in more abstract thinking about the past, using the past, and into imagining the future, or alternative ways of doing things. It helps them to problem solve, and to experiment. It helps them to work out what they think and feel.” Bruce identifies 12 “Features of Play”: Children use first hand experiences from life; Children make up rules as they play in order to keep control. Children symbolically represent as they play, making and adapting play props. Children choose to play – they cannot be made to play. Children rehearse their future in their role play. Children sometimes play alone. Children pretend when they play. Children play with adults and other children cooperatively in pairs or groups. Children have a personal play agenda, which may or may not be shared. Children are deeply involved and difficult to distract from their deep learning as they wallow in their play and learning. Children try out their most recently acquired skills and competences, as if celebrating what they know. Children coordinate ideas and feelings and make sense of relationships with their families, friends and cultures.