The 12 Best Blocks For Kids That LOVE To Build!
My oldest is a huge fan of building. I often describe him as a ‘thinker and tinkerer’, so it’s no surprise that he can’t get enough of building toys. Bricks and blocks for building are a perfect toy to occupy a child without screens. They’re perfect for STEM thinking, problem solving, review of geometry + colors, and just plain being creative. Read on to check out our list of the 12 best blocks for kids that love to build!
THE 12 BEST BLOCKS FOR KIDS THAT LOVE TO BUILD
1. Magformers
These sturdy magnetic blocks became one of #thebigone’s favorites when he had a chance to check them out at preschool. The basic shapes and colors are perfect for teaching little ones at home. Building with them provides an ideal opportunity to talk about simple geometry ideas with your kids. I wish we had some at our house, but so far we’ve loved checking them out in other settings.
2. K’Nex
I received these K’Nex sets from the manufacturer as a gift following a press event.
Although technically not a block, these building toys have come a long way in recent years. The company offers a line of Kid K’Nex for younger builders, and multiple impressive sets for older tinkerers. There are options to incorporate movement and motors in your builds, so the STEM learning opportunities are endless.
3. Duplos
These chunky building blocks have been perfect for #thelittleone. He’s anxious to dig into his big brother’s Legos, but he’s not quite old enough to use them unsupervised. Duplos have been the ideal choice for him. He loves the bright colors, as well as the fun themes + licenses available, like Disney’s Cars.
4. Magnatiles / Shape Mags
I previously received a set of Shape Mags to facilitate a blog review. A combination of Magnatiles and Shape Mags are seen in these photos.
These brightly colored magnetic tiles are a family favorite. The boys love to build tall towers together and then noisily smash them down. (Typical boys, right?!) These building blocks lend themselves perfectly to discussions about color, shape, and 3 dimensional geometry, so young architects can learn through play.
5. Bristle Blocks
These easy to assemble plastic blocks have been around since I was a kid! Now #thelittleone has a set in way cooler colors than I ever had! The spiky edges are simple enough for toddler hands to push together, making them perfect for very young builders.
6. Better Blocks
This choice is definitely a bit of a throwback, but I had to include it on the list! I came across a big bucket of them at a thrift store and picked them up for my boys. The majority of the blocks are sort of oval shaped, so they can be shaped into curves easier than many other building toys. A few of the blocks are specially made to be compatible with Legos, which makes them extra exciting for my kiddos!
7. Legos
The Legos of today are nothing like the Legos of my youth- and I thought Legos were SO cool back then! Legos are one of our very favorite building toys, and #thebigone has amassed a large collection. We love to put together sets, but also love to just build creatively with loose bricks. There are add-on options from various companies that allow you to add movement, lights, and motors to your builds, so Legos are an amazing option for STEM learning.
>>> Love Legos?! Check out this end of the school year idea inspired by them! <<<
8. MegaBloks
For kids that like to build big, MegaBloks are the best choice! We have a huge collection, including a few sets of their discontinued castle blocks. My family loves to use these as an outside toy, for large scale building in the yard. We’ve had ours for years, and my kiddos still love to pull them out and build on nice days.
9. Squigz
#thelittleone is currently all about Squigz. They’re soft, colorful, and flexible, with suction cups to attach them to each other. Squigz don’t build in the traditional brick/block way, so they really inspire children to think creatively.
10. Connectagons
Our set of Connectagons was an impulse purchase I discovered at a garage sale. I’m so glad I went with that impulse! Although everything on this list has benefits for fine motor, Connectagons are especially good for this. Fitting the slots together to create a structure can be tricky and frustrating for little hands, but ultimately, my boys have enjoyed them.
11. Lincoln Logs
Here’s another classic choice, that my oldest just loves! I remember playing with Lincoln Logs when I was in grade school, and I’m so glad my son enjoys them too. If we’re being honest, my dad is the family member who’s truly obsessed with building log cabins. He keeps a LARGE collection of them at his house, and the boys love to build with Grandpa.
12. Snap Cubes + Unifix Cubes
These colorful plastic cubes are a common math manipulative used in classrooms. I happened upon a large set at a garage sale- they were such a great find! In addition to providing tons of building opportunities, they present the chance to talk about colors, counting, and basic math ideas. My oldest especially loves that they’re cubes- the perfect building choice for all kids that are Minecraft + Roblox obsessed!
SURPRISE! HERE’S SOME BONUS BRICKS TO CHECK OUT!
13. Brick Mates
I received these Brick Mates sets free of charge from the manufacturer to facilitate my review.
We recently discovered the Brick Mates line of products– the boys and I instantly fell in love! #thelittleone is totally obsessed with the Lock + Learn puzzles. These Duplo-style puzzles are perfect for little hands, and reinforce early academic skills like letters, numbers, and shapes. He loves pressing the quick-release tabs on the sides to free all the puzzle pieces. My personal favorite feature is that the pieces stay on the board when stored- no more hunting for random puzzle pieces every time you want to play!
#thebigone has loved having the chance to check out the Stack By Numbers sets from Brick Mates. These adorable mosaics are great for mixing creativity and learning. Kids have the opportunity to build 3-dimensional artwork while giving their fine motor skills a serious workout! The finished projects are perfect to hang on a wall in a kid’s bedroom or playroom, or can be taken apart to build over and over. We’ve loved these kits, and were so impressed by the reasonable prices as well. It’s tough to find engaging, screen-free fun ideas for kiddos under $15, but Brick Mates makes it possible.
Do you have any young architects, builders, or engineers in your life? What’s their favorite toy to build with? Let me know in the comments below!
>>> Still looking for fun building ideas?! Check out this unconventional idea we loved! <<<