Things You'll Need:
- Brio: Colored Building Blocks
- Earlyears: Soft Busy Blocks
- Edushape: Giant Multicolored Blocks
- Plan Toys: Castle Blocks
- Playskool: Teletubbies Pull N Play Soft Blocks
- Sassy: Learning Blocks
- Schylling: Alphabet Blocks
- Simplex: Block Cart
- Small World Toys: Wagon Blocks
- W J Fantasy: Jewish Holiday Building Blocks
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Step 1
Assess your child's physical and mental level. Blocks foster imagination and teach hand-eye coordination - but if the blocks are too small or too complex, they may frustrate rather than excite.
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Step 2
Consider characteristics: Soft, foam blocks won't hurt small children and they can go in the bath too; oversize blocks may be easier for small children or those with physical disabilities to grasp. "Classic" blocks tend to teach primary colors; revamped sets come in groovy colors including neon. Wooden blocks are traditional, but cardboard or foam blocks are easier to lift, especially in the larger sizes.
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Step 3
Check what your child already has. A specific set, designed to build a castle or tower, may thrill a child who's tired of the basics; a 50-piece set that includes some new shapes and colors may supplement an existing set.
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Step 4
Consider combining block play with another interest or skill. Some block sets teach colors; others teach letters or numbers or ethnic diversity (or all three); there's even a set that introduces young children to the celebrations of Judaism.
