What’s the Best Gift to Encourage Learning Through Play?

The best gift to encourage learning through play is blocks! Invest in your child’s education by gifting them a beautiful, classic toy that is so much fun.

Why are blocks a good toy for kids? 

Blocks are a good toy for kids of any age because they offer a hands-on way for children to explore important concepts like balance, symmetry, fractions and multiples - naturally supporting mathematical thinking. Blocks also enhance language development and imaginative play. As children work together using blocks, they strengthen social-emotional skills by practicing communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. The potential for learning through play with blocks is limitless! 

How do you start building a block collection? 

Building a block collection can seem daunting, but it’s a great gift to build upon year after year. Here are some of my favorite options for beginning or building your own home block collection. 

Unit Blocks

Unit blocks are the gold standard of blocks for a reason. They’re mathematically designed so that all of the blocks in a set are based on the same standard unit. The unit block is the main shape and all other shapes are in some way fractions or multiples of that unit. They’re made from natural, unpainted hardwood. The absence of color makes them a perfect neutral play tool and their natural texture and weight makes them perfect for well-balanced builds. 

You can start out with any number of blocks, but you’ll want more in no time! I recommend choosing a set with at least 28 pieces. Guidecraft offers Unit Block Sets in a range of piece-counts, making it easy to get started! 

Hollow Blocks

If your kids like to build larger structures, Hollow Blocks or Mini Hollow Blocks are a perfect choice. They are unit block aligned which means they make a perfect unit block accessory. Their larger scale means that your children can build big things with fewer blocks which many young kids really enjoy!

Notch Blocks

Are you looking for a building set that your kids can use inside and outside? Notch Blocks are the perfect choice for both indoor and outdoor play. These blocks are designed with notches so they can fit together and stay structurally sound even with children climbing in and out of the structures. Notches also mean that kids can build with them outdoors on uneven ground.

My kids have loved these for years. So much so that we got a second set! These blocks are made out of eucalyptus wood, so they are naturally weather-resistant, but be sure to store them somewhere dry anyway.

It's important to note that notch blocks follow their own mathematical standard and aren’t unit block aligned. They aren’t meant to be used alongside unit blocks, but my kids have figured out lots of way to combine these sets to build huge, amazing things. 

Outdoor Hollow Blocks

Outdoor Hollow Blocks, or giant hollow blocks as my kids call them, are mathematically unit aligned hollow blocks at giant proportions.

Just like with notch blocks, these huge blocks are amazing for building child-sized structures that kids can climb in and on for really large scale dramatic block play. Since Outdoor Hollow Blocks are made of eucalyptus wood (like Notch Blocks) they’re naturally weather resistant, but should be stored in a dry place anyway.

They are a big investment both financially and in the space they take up, but for true block-loving kids, the potential for play is epic.

Rainbow Blocks, Mirror Blocks, and Sensory Blocks

Adding color and opportunity for light exploration in block play are some of our favorite things. These specialized blocks make that kind of play possible while still staying true to the unit block scale. Add Rainbow Blocks, Mirror Blocks, or Sensory Blocks to your block collection when your child is showing signs of decorative block play. This kind of play often focuses on visual balance and symmetry, adding decorations to the tops of structures, or great attention to patterns in block play.

You really can’t go wrong with any of these options, so take the plunge and bring block play into your home this holiday season!