www.FredericksburgParent.NET 33
D OW N T OW N F R E D E R I C K S B U R G C H E S T E R F I E L D S H O R T P U M P
Kids have been playing with blocks forever. Why? Well,
as you probably remember from your own childhood,
the only thing more fun than building a tall tower is
knocking that tower down and then starting the
process all over again.
It's a simple game. But the concepts
it teaches are anything but. In
fact, playing with blocks starts
building fundamental science,
technology, engineering and
math (STEM) skills that can help
children succeed in careers that are
increasingly a vital part of both
our economy and our world.
And like all the play-based activities at the Children's
Museum, we take the fun to an even higher level. We
place our transparent blocks on light tables—where
kids can discover how light changes the
colors as they plan, stack, complete (and
destroy) their creative structures.
While doing so, they increase
their fi ne motor development,
pre-writing skills, color
recognition, reasoning abilities
and spatial awareness skills.
Oh, and they also have a ton
of fun—which is incredibly cute
to watch.
LET'S BE HONEST:
LEARNING STEM SKILLS
IS PRETTY ADORABLE
C H I L D R E N S M U S E U M O F R I C H M O N D . O R G
