10 Creative Ways to Use Pattern Blocks for Early Years Learning

When it comes to educational toys for the early years, few resources are as versatile, engaging, and educational as pattern blocks. At Edx Education, we’re passionate about helping children learn through play-based learning, using high-quality maths resources and hands-on experiences that inspire curiosity and confidence.

Pattern blocks are a must-have in every early years setting—whether that’s a nursery, preschool, or home learning environment. With their vibrant colours and simple geometric shapes, they offer endless possibilities to explore early maths, language development, fine motor skills, and creative thinking.

One of our newest favourites is the Green-n-Learn Sensory Tangram Set, made from sustainable materials and designed to support tactile exploration. These textured pattern blocks are ideal for sensory play and are perfect for building key skills in a fun, eco-friendly way.

Here are 10 exciting and educational ways to use pattern blocks at home or in the classroom with young children.

1. Shape Scavenger Hunt

Turn learning into a game! Hide pattern blocks around your home or classroom and encourage children to find and name them. Ask questions like “How many sides does this shape have?” or “Can you find a red triangle?” A great way to promote shape recognition, problem-solving, and gross motor development.

2. Sensory Tray Exploration

Add the Green-n-Learn Sensory Pattern Blocks to a sensory tray filled with sand, rice, or lentils. Children can dig, discover, and sort shapes while engaging their senses. Sensory trays are excellent for developing fine motor skills, tactile awareness, and early maths vocabulary.

3. Build and Create

Ask children to use pattern blocks to create pictures—animals, rockets, houses, flowers—the only limit is their imagination! This open-ended activity builds spatial reasoning, and geometry skills, and encourages creative expression.

4. Pattern Making

Encourage children to copy, extend, or invent their own repeating patterns using different shapes and colours. This introduces them to key maths concepts such as sequencing, logic, and early coding skills, all through playful interaction.

5. Storytelling with Shapes

Support language development and communication skills by inviting children to make up stories using their pattern block designs. For example: “Once upon a time, the green square met the blue triangle in the forest…” A wonderful way to encourage imaginative thinking.

6. Sort and Classify

Offer bowls or trays to sort shapes by colour, size, or type. Sorting activities support cognitive development, logical thinking, and introduce children to the foundations of data handling and mathematical categorisation.

7. Symmetry and Reflection Play

Use a small mirror to explore symmetry. Ask children to create one side of a design and watch the mirror complete it. This visual play introduces concepts of balance, reflection, and symmetry—important elements of early geometry.

8. Maths Through Play

Use pattern blocks to count sides, group by numbers, or explore addition and subtraction. Roll a dice and collect that many shapes, or build number towers. These playful approaches help build numeracy, counting, and number sense.

9. Tactile Guessing Game

With their eyes closed, have children feel a shape and guess what it is—then find its match. Our Green-n-Learn Sensory Tangram Set makes this especially fun, supporting sensory integration, memory, and descriptive language skills.

10. Collaborative Design Time

Encourage teamwork by building a large group mosaic using pattern blocks. This promotes social development, cooperation, and helps children practise important social-emotional skills like sharing, turn-taking, and collaborative decision-making.

Why Pattern Blocks Are Essential Educational Toys for the Early Years

Pattern blocks are a fantastic maths resource and an essential part of any early years curriculum. Whether you’re a parent looking to enhance home learning or an educator building hands-on lessons, these educational toys are a powerful tool to engage young minds through play-based learning.

At Edx Education, we’re here to support families and educators with a wide range of award-winning resources, including our sustainable Green-n-Learn range, downloadable activity guides, and our podcast, Play, Learn & Create with Edx Education—packed with tips on making learning playful and purposeful.

Discover more about our Pattern Blocks and Early Years Educational Toys at EdxEducation.com
Explore, create, and play your way to confident learners!