From Building Blocks to Kindness: How Spatial Skills Help Kids Grow Socially

Did you know that your child’s ability to build with blocks, solve puzzles, or imagine how a shape looks from a different angle can actually help them develop empathy and kindness?

It might sound surprising, but research shows a fascinating connection between spatial ability—skills like visualising shapes, directions, and spaces—and social competence, which includes sharing, helping, and understanding others’ feelings.

In simple terms, the same thinking skills that help a child stack blocks or complete a puzzle can also support them to become more cooperative, caring, and emotionally aware.

What Are Spatial Skills?

Spatial skills help us make sense of the world around us in terms of space and shapes. Young children use these skills when they build towers, navigate playgrounds, or try to picture how pieces of a puzzle fit together.

We often think of spatial ability as something linked to maths or engineering, but it turns out, these skills play a much bigger role in a child’s development—including their ability to connect with others socially.

From Spatial Thinking to Social Understanding

Researchers have discovered that children with stronger spatial skills, particularly those involving perspective-taking, are also more likely to show empathy, cooperate with peers, and manage their emotions.

The reason is simple yet powerful. When a child practices seeing the world from a different visual perspective—such as imagining how something looks from another person’s point of view—they’re also building the ability to understand someone else’s emotional perspective.

For example, being able to imagine what another person sees when standing on the other side of a room is connected to imagining how that person feels in a certain situation. This mental flexibility is at the heart of empathy and prosocial behaviour.

Why Language Matters

It’s not just about toys or activities—how we talk to children plays a huge role too.

When parents and caregivers use what’s called “spatial language”—words like above, below, next to, or through—during everyday moments, children develop stronger spatial awareness. Interestingly, studies show that this also helps with social language and kindness.

For example, when you say, “Let’s put the triangle on top of the square”, your child is learning more than just directions—they’re developing flexible thinking, which later supports emotional understanding and cooperation.

Everyday Ways to Nurture Both Skills

The good news is you don’t need special tools or complex activities to help your child grow spatially and socially.

Building with blocks or boxes, drawing maps of familiar places, or even narrating directions while playing all help strengthen these abilities. You can also weave emotional understanding into daily life. For instance, after saying “The cat is hiding under the table”, you might add, “How do you think she feels under there?”

These small moments combine to support your child’s cognitive development while also encouraging kindness, sharing, and empathy.

The Bigger Picture

Spatial skills aren’t just for future scientists or engineers—they’re everyday tools for understanding the world and the people in it. By supporting your child’s spatial development, you’re also building their capacity for emotional connection, problem-solving, and positive social behaviour.

So next time you build a tower, play a puzzle, or talk about where things are, remember—you’re helping your child grow into a thoughtful, capable, and compassionate person, one block at a time.

Try This at Home

Here are some easy ways to get started:

1.Build Together

Use blocks, LEGO, or cardboard boxes to build structures. Talk about where pieces go: “Let’s put this one beside the tall one.”

2. Perspective Play

Use dolls, action figures, or stuffed animals to explore feelings and viewpoints. “What can Teddy see from up there?” or “How do you think Bear felt when Bunny took the toy?”

3. Draw or Map Your Day

Let your child draw a map of their bedroom or a recent walk. Talk about what’s next to what, or what you see when you turn a corner.

4. Mirror Emotions

As you talk about where things are, pair it with emotional language:

“The cat was hiding under the couch. Do you think she felt scared down there?”

Source: Uttal, D. H., Meadow, N. G., Tipton, E., Hand, L. L., Alden, A. R., Warren, C., & Newcombe, N. S. (2023). From spatial to social competence: The association between spatial ability and prosocial behaviour in childhood. British Journal of Developmental Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjdp.70001