Tower Of Ten: illustration of a toddler doing the activity

Tower Of Ten

from 24 months · 10-15 min · Fine motor

Physical DevelopmentMathematics

What you need

  • blocks or stackable cups
  • flat floor space
  • nothing else needed

How to do it

  1. Sit on the floor together and start a small tower of 2-3 blocks.
  2. Encourage your toddler to add blocks one by one, counting each one as it goes on.
  3. Cheer when it gets wobbly, and let them knock it down themselves.
  4. Build again, seeing if you can beat your last count together.

Why it matters

Balancing a taller tower than they could manage as a one-year-old builds steady hands and the patience to go slowly.

What they're learning

hand steadiness
Placing a block without toppling the tower trains the steady hand they'll need for pouring their own drink.
counting in order
Counting blocks as they stack builds the one-to-one counting they'll use in early maths.
coping with collapse
Watching the tower fall and rebuilding it teaches that mistakes aren't the end, just part of trying again.

What to look for

Watch for them slowing down and using their fingertips as the tower gets taller, a sign they're self-correcting.

A tip

Let them be the one to knock it down at the end, it's often the best bit and stops a meltdown when it falls on its own.

Make it easier or harder

Easier: use big soft blocks that stack easily

Harder: challenge them to build without any wobble before knocking it down

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Fine motor activities · Activities for 2 year olds · Toddler activities with cups