FRESNO, Calif. – For families visiting Fresno Children’s Pediatrics, a child’s visit now comes with an unexpected highlight: a box of toy blocks to build a foundation for early development.
The clinic has launched “Prescription for Play,” a program aimed at toddlers ages 18 to 36 months, encouraging families to use simple, hands-on activities to support early childhood development. The project, which is part of an initiative from LEGO, integrates play into pediatric care by providing DUPLO blocks and guidance on how caregivers can engage their children.
The concept reframes play as an essential component of healthy growth rather than just entertainment.
“Play is how children learn about the world,” said Dr. Hailey Nelson, pediatrician at Valley Children’s. “It supports everything from language development to motor skills and social interaction. In short, play helps build the brain.”
During visits, clinicians show families how simple play supports early childhood development. For example, when children stack blocks, they improve hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Talking about colors and shapes helps build language skills, while trying and adjusting builds problem-solving skills.
This effort comes as experts raise concerns about excessive screen time for young children. Hands-on play encourages real interaction between children and caregivers. Researchers say this type of play is key to healthy brain development.
“I have been consistently struck by how grateful parents and caregivers are to receive them,” said Dr. Bansri Patel, pediatric resident at Valley Children’s. “Parents often share that their children are excited to engage with the toys immediately, and they appreciate having a resource that promotes learning, creativity and meaningful play at home.”
Children often begin playing with the blocks immediately, sometimes even before the medical visit ends.
The program’s emphasis is on fostering moments of interaction – brief, simple exchanges that can have lasting developmental benefits. In a busy household, experts at Valley Children’s say that just a few minutes of focused play makes a big difference.
“We wanted to make developmental guidance tangible for families,” said Dr. Veronica Gullapalli, pediatric resident at Valley Children’s. “This project showed us that something as simple as a box of LEGO DUPLO blocks can spark learning, strengthen family connections and promote healthy child development.”
By making the program part of a visit, the team hopes to reach families early and consistently, reinforcing the idea that play is as important as nutrition, sleep and regular checkups.
“It has been inspiring to see firsthand how a relatively small intervention can have such a meaningful effect on children’s development, family engagement and overall well-being,” Dr. Patel added.
To learn more about Prescription for Play, click here.
