SEQUIM — It’ll be a block party for children 8 months to 8 years old, with a little math mixed into the play.
Block Fest, a state-funded exhibit that brings together kids, foam blocks, cardboard blocks and three kinds of wooden blocks, will arrive at the Sequim Community School on Saturday.
The Parenting Matters Foundation and Prevention Works, two support programs for Clallam County families, are hosting two free sessions at 10 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. in the First Teacher room at the Sequim Community School, 220 W. Alder St.
Playing with blocks is both fun and powerful, added Teresa Winstead, the organizer of Block Fest’s travels to seven counties across Washington.
While stacking, counting, building and dismantling block structures, children are developing their social skills and learning some basic math through counting, informal addition and the geometry of building bridges and towers.
And though the aftermath of a blocks session can be messy, “cleaning up can be part of the fun,” she said.
“Keep it fun and silly,” Winstead advised, adding that parents don’t necessarily need to buy a brand-new set of blocks. They can look around the household for alternatives.
“You don’t have to have blocks to play with things that stack,” she said.
“We’ve had older kids come to Block Fest and have a fantastic time. There’s something universally appealing about blocks.”
Space is limited. For information and reservations, phone 360-681-2250.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
