Wooden Blocks: A Timeless Toy

Perhaps you remember playing with wooden blocks as a child yourself or your parents have kept and old set in the family for your kids to play with. I know that the Wooden Unit block set we have for our children has been the most played with toy we have. We got the kids their first set 8 years ago and our 8 year old still plays with them. Unit blocks are the most open ended toy you can have. My kids have built train stations, whole cities including airports, churches, supermarkets, parking garages and roads. One of Owen's favorite play activity was to make tunnels for his trains with the blocks. Liam love to build balancing structures that he displayed for weeks.

The Unit block or Kindergarten block was developed by educator, Caroline Pratt in the early 1900's. She founded a school in NY in 1914. Since then the unit block has become the standard block size in the US. A unit block is 5.5 inches long, 2.75 inches wide, and 1.375 inches. My kids loved the gothic arch for tunnels and arch ways to their buildings.

Unit blocks are made from different kinds of wood and were originally made out of Maple. The Maple blocks tend to be more expensive and also the most durable. Other wood types include birch and rubber wood. The best sized set for a 4 year old and up would be approximately 50-75 pieces of various sizes. That way you have enough to make large towers or long roads without running out of pieces.

There are some neat accessory block pieces as well now such as the rainbow blocks, sand and water blocks and shimmering sand blocks. My kids loved the rainbow blocks as windows and doors to their buildings.

I know that our unit block set will be around for the kids to pass along to their kids and probably their grandkids as well. I love the fact that this toy will be played with again and again.

Another old time favorite wooden block are the ABC blocks. These are classic and beautiful and a perfect first block for toddlers to play with. Our ABC set was just brought back out for our 9 month old to play with. HE loves to stack the blocks and make them tumble. ABC blocks are usually a square of 1 ¾" and the updated ones are silk screened with classic lettering and graphics. The best ones are made of a hardwood most commonly, Maple. I love the fact that ABC blocks are also educational and children can start spelling words with them very early. My 8 year old was spelling words the other day with our ABC block set for his 2 ½ year old sister. They were having a great time.

With all the toy safety worries today, wooden blocks are safe, durable, and there are many American companies to choose from. To view a great chart with different block sizes and set sizes you can visit http://www.abcwoodenblocks.com/