子どものおもちゃとして、昔から親しまれている「積み木」。 四角い木を積んだり、並べたり、家やお城を作ったり……。 今では当たり前のように見かける積み木ですが、 「積み木って、いったいいつからあるんだろう？」 と考えたことはありませんか？ 実は、積み木の歴史をたどっていくと、幼児教育の歴史だけでなく、日本の木のおもちゃの文化にもつながっていくのです！ 今回は、積み木がどのように生まれ、日本にどのように伝わり、現在の積み木へとつながっていったのかを、少し深掘りしてみましょう。

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Around age 5, block play evolves from "building alone" to "collaborating with friends to create." Children are increasingly observed discussing how to proceed with their play, with comments such as, "How can we make it stronger?", "Let's build a city...

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At 3-4 years old, block play develops significantly beyond just "stacking" to include "thinking," "experimenting," and "innovating." This is a period when children are often seen thinking and experimenting on their own, asking questions like, "How can I stack this...

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Building blocks are one of the first "constructive play" activities children encounter. For infants aged 0-2, the goal isn't to build tall structures, but rather for them to experience the warmth of the wood, its weight, sound, and shape through...

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