Building blocks are one of the great classic toys. Almost every child is lucky enough to get wooden building blocks to play with. I think they are an all time favorite toy because building blocks have so many developmental benefits for the child. Blocks are also great for lasting a long time and sharing between multiple children. They can appeal at the most basic level to toddlers but they have potential to captivate adults as well because we all love to build and create. First, I will talk about some of the benefits of a wooden block set. Then I will share five cool, unusual types of building blocks for kids.
This post on designer building blocks features some the best types of building blocks available. Most of these can be found at specialty toy stores or ordered through my affiliate link on Amazon.
Benefits Of A Wooden Block Set
At a basic level manipulating the different shapes of wooden toys helps little hands build fine motor skills. Wooden building blocks are great because they help children learn dexterity, hand eye coordination, problem solving, and even the basic laws of physics- all while they are having a great time! Your child will learn about spatial relations and gravity as he plays without even realizing he is doing so. Young children can even learn early math concepts and a variety of shapes as they play with these educational toys.
Wooden building blocks encourage imagination and creativity as a child plans what to build and problem solves as they discover what will and won’t work. This type of imaginative play is invaluable as they discover unique variations and fun designs. Children and adults alike also feel a sense of pride as they see what the child can build with solid wood blocks.
Building blocks are even great for developing communication skills as a child describes his building plans and tells you about his creation. Building blocks can be great tools for teaching math concepts and organizational skills.
Wooden building blocks have a great weight for building with. Wood is also safe and durable. Wooden blocks look great and are more eco-friendly than plastic or foam blocks. Wooden blocks can be passed down from generation to generation.
Types Of Wooden Building Blocks For Kids
There are so many fabulous wooden building block sets. Here are few unique wooden building blocks that have a twist- a little something extra special! Prepare to be impressed by some pretty awesome building block sets!
Bibros Building Blocks
Bibros is a wonderful, small wooden block set that, despite its simple design, lets you build unusual and attractive constructions in a small space. Four different European woods (nut tree, wild service tree, maple, and oiled beech) lend their colors and natural wood grain to the elegant Bibros building blocks. Bibros blocks can be arranged in a 2D flat way to make cool designs as well as in a 3D way to make unusual structures. The 24 piece set of Bibros blocks come in a cloth bag for easy storage.
Groupius Natural Wooden Construction Blocks
The blocks are named after Walter Gropius of Germany’s Bauhaus School of Art and Design. The unique form of the Groupius block, repeated 12 times in the set, allows for endless combinations and constructions. These are architectural blocks for adults or children.
The Gropius small, desktop building set is made from beautifully finished European Maple. Based on the work of architect Walter Gropius, this simple design will astonish you with its possible combinations. The only limit is your imagination. Groupius wooden building blocks are a beautiful small-scale construction toy for small play spaces (or desktop), it makes a great gift for the child with design on the mind, or the design-conscious grown-up! Endless creative possibilities in 3D construction with these beautiful blocks.
Totem 24 Designer Building Blocks
Totem blocks provide a creative outlet for the architect or designer in children and adults. These designer building blocks are carefully crafted in Italy from fine grain European Maple. The Totem set of blocks interlock and stack in unusual ways that lend themselves to creativity.
Tsumiki Blocks
Award-winning Tsumiki Blocks, imported from Japan. The innovative shapes and beautiful finish in this wooden construction toy set let you create shapes and structures way beyond the conventional wooden block set. Unlike the simple geometric shapes of standard kindergarten blocks, these have unique angles, notches and curves. Younger builders will find them unique embellishments to castles or fantasy creatures. Advanced block-builders will discover many unexpected ways the unusual shapes can be combined make structures that are true works of art. Worthy of space on a display shelf or coffee table, these blocks will invite frequent rearrangement and provide visual pleasure and entertainment. Tsumiki 34 wooden blocks come in a wooden storage tray that my kids love putting them away into as they fit like a puzzle!
Pyrom Designer Blocks
I don’t know if I would actually call these building blocks since they have a base but I would call them designer blocks and you can build some cool stuff! PYROM lets you experience the fascinating beauty of geometry and design, all while playing. The blocks themselves are based on rhombic dodecahedrons so all kinds of patterns and 3D shapes can be created. These best sellers are great for older children or adults.
All of these wooden building blocks for kids are unique and fancy enough to be considered as wooden building blocks for adults as well.
Simple Wooden Block Building Ideas
Wooden blocks are fantastic for open-ended play, and here are some simple but creative building ideas to try:
- Towers and Skyscrapers
- Challenge kids to stack blocks as high as they can go. Adding narrow, taller blocks can create a skyscraper look. See how tall they can make it before it tumbles!
- Bridges and Tunnels
- Use a combination of flat blocks and taller supports to make bridges. Kids can roll small cars or marbles underneath or over them for extra fun.
- Pyramid or Ziggurat
- Stack blocks in a stepped formation, with each level being slightly smaller than the one below. This makes a nice stable structure that also introduces ideas about symmetry and geometry.
- Castles
- Build walls and towers around an open courtyard space, with small “rooms” inside. Use arches and smaller blocks to create entryways.
- Animal Homes
- Build little “caves” for toy animals or cars. It could be as simple as placing a roof block across two tall blocks or making more elaborate cubbies.
- Alphabet or Number Patterns
- Use blocks to form letters or numbers, which can double as a learning exercise for younger children.
- Roads and Pathways
- Set up pathways on the ground with long, thin blocks. Kids can create “roads” for toy cars or animals to travel along.
- Robot or Person Shapes
- Create a simple block “robot” or “person” by stacking blocks to resemble legs, arms, and a head.
- Maze
- Set up a maze with walls made of blocks. This is especially fun for rolling marbles or guiding small cars through it.
- Pattern Towers
- Stack blocks in repeating color or size patterns, which introduces concepts of rhythm and sequences.
Each of these ideas is great for fostering fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and creativity in kids.
Conclusion
We all know building blocks are fun but they are educational too! Building blocks can help your child with early motor skills and hand-eye coordination. They can also teach many principles of physics. Kids learn cause and effect as well as creative thinking and to plan ahead. As kids play together and interact with other children and parents they also develop social skills, language skills, and a sense of pride in their accomplishments. Designer building blocks take things to a whole extra level as they engage the parents more and last longer as the child’s developmental stages change. Which blocks for kids are your favorite?
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Kelly Carling says
Have you checked out Tegu magnetic wooden building blocks? They are made from sustainably-harvested wooden in Honduras. Check us out at Tegu.com