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!

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

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.

>>> IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN CHECKING OUT THE BRICK MATES STACK BY NUMBERS ROCKET #THEBIGONE HAS HERE, HEAD TO AMAZON FOR PRIME DAY 2018! I’VE BEEN TOLD IT WILL BE RUNNING WITH A 20% DISCOUNT! <<<

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! <<<

With warmer weather approaching quickly, #thebigone’s thoughts are quickly turning to summer break. His extracurricular activities like Boy Scouts are winding down for the year. One of his new adventures this year was checking out the First Lego League Jr. teams at school. My oldest loved the opportunity to research, design, build, and problem solve with his friends. We spent the week before the final expo trying to come up with a small thank you gift for his coaches. Read on the see the end of school year gift we decided to put together. Don’t forget to grab the free printable card that pairs perfectly!

This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

PERFECT END OF SCHOOL YEAR GIFT FOR LEGO LOVERS

Lego Love Keychain/Charm/Necklace:

A quick search on Pinterest will reveal at least a million variations on this project. (Only a slight exaggeration!) It’s in no way my entirely original idea. Many don’t use glue or paint, and most seem to create necklaces only. I’m sharing how we chose to approach this craft, but again- it’s inspired by many, MANY crafters before me!

You Will Need: 

• Two Lego 2×2 coupling plates for each charm.
• Craft glue.
  • Technically this is optional. Read my instructions below for more information.
• Jewelry fixtures.
  • 1-2 jump rings per heart charm.
    • 1 for a keychain, 1 or 2 for a necklace/bracelet.
  • Chain or cord if you intend to make a necklace or bracelet.
  • Key chain fixture if you intend to create keychains like we did.
• Pliers may be helpful when working with jewelry fixtures.
• Optional: spray paint, if you’d like to alter the color of your bricks.

Instructions: 

1. First use a small amount of craft glue to securely attach one 2×2 coupling plate on top of the other.
2. Allow the glue to dry thoroughly.
   1. I noted above that many crafters do not use glue when creating these charms. #thebigone and I chose to make keychains, so we wanted to make the charms sturdy enough to throw in a purse, etc. Glue is optional, but will add strength.
3. If you intend to alter the charm color, spray paint lightly in a well ventilated area.
   1. A few thin coats, allowed to dry entirely between, will look much neater than one heavy, drippy coat.
4. Once the paint is completely dry, attach your jump ring to one hole in the charm- for the keychain.
   1. If making a necklace/bracelet, you may prefer a jump ring in each hole.
5. Finally, attach additional jewelry/keychain fixtures to jump ring(s) as desired.

Free Printable Lego Love Cards:

I created a few fun, easy cards you can print to accompany your Lego gift. One version is perfect for teachers, or in our case, Lego coaches. The next is great for special friends your child has made this school year. The final version is ideal for sports coaches, scout leaders, etc, who have helped your kiddo develop special skills over the year.

Instructions: 

1. First, download the appropriate cards. (Look below to grab your files!)
2. Second, the card into quarters, so it opens on the side.
3. Next, have your child sign their name. Encourage them to draw a special picture, or write a quick note as well!
4. Finally package your Lego gift with the special card, and your end of school year gift is ready to give to someone special!

>>> Teacher End Of School Year Gift Card (Learning) <<<
>>> Friend End Of School Year Gift Card (Friendship) <<<
>>> Coach End Of School Year Gift Card (Skills) <<<

What sort of end of school year gift do you like to send in for teachers and coaches? Let me know in the comments below!

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Interested in some of the essentials you see here? Pick up some of the products I used HERE!

This post was sponsored by Tobacco Free New York State as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.
All opinions expressed in my post are my own. 

I’ve always been fairly confident that my oldest would never be a smoker. Although he’s 7 now, he has been staunchly anti-tobacco for years. (Confession: he used to shake his fist angrily in the backseat when he spotted a smoker in the next car. So embarassing!)  I recently learned that the more kids are exposed to tobacco use and advertising, the more likely they are to become new customers for this unhealthy industry. It reinforced my need to keep revisiting the topic with both of my boys. I also want to spread the word about the ‘Seen Enough Tobacco’ movement from Tobacco Free New York State.

HAVE YOU SEEN ENOUGH TOBACCO?

Keep It Age Appropriate

When I mentioned this topic to my husband, I was very clear that the way we talk about tobacco with our 2 year old would be quite different from how we would speak with our 7 year old. My hubs was a little shocked. He couldn’t understand why we would speak with our youngest about it. The truth is, kids are perceptive from a young age, taking in a lot from their environment. When my toddler sees tobacco product at the store, smells smoke in public, or sees a glowing cigarette, he’s going to have questions. That’s why it’s so important to be sure to meet your child at their age level.

Make It Relatable

Obviously, we don’t want to scare kids too much, or expose them to anything harmful. When discussing the negative effects of tobacco use with children, be sure it’s not too frightening, but be honest. Find ways to relate the symptoms to their own experiences… ‘Remember when we had a campfire, and the smoke made you cough?’ ‘Last time we ran a race, it took some time for us to catch our breath.’ ‘That smoke we smelled outside the restaurant last week was very stinky, wasn’t it?’ They all allow children to catch a glimpse of the sort of effect tobacco use can have on their health, without causing unneeded anxiety, especially in very sensitive kiddos.

Keep The Lines Of Communication Open

When kids are presented with a lot of information on a tough topic at once, they have a tendency to shut down. Children process big thoughts in chunks, taking in as much as they need to at a particular time. They’ll think about that information for a bit, and then come back with questions when they’re ready to hear more. You want them to truly take in what you’re teaching, so be mindful of this trait. It will help you avoid overwhelming your little ones, and boost their retention of this important health information.

Sign The Petition

There average age of a new smoker in New York State (where I live!) is around 13 years old. This is pretty terrifying to me as a mom. The more kids are exposed to tobacco products in retail spaces as well as media, the more likely they are to try this nasty habit. Here in New York State, the Tobacco Free New York State organization is working hard to bring information to the public. They are an invaluable resource, and can help you find the resources you need to talk to your families. I think all parents can agree, our children have seen enough tobacco in public places, and it needs to end. Get involved in this mission by signing the petition! If you’re struggling to stop using tobacco, there’s a help line that can guide you through that process, as well as links to choosing smoke free housing, media, and others.

Be sure to check out this valuable resource, and find ways to get involved.
Connect with Tobacco Free New York State via any of these links:

Web Site / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter

Tailor Your Approach

YOU know your kids best, and know how they learn. There are so many ways to approach the topic of smoking and tobacco with them. No method will be one size fits all, so it’s crucial that you choose a learning style that works for your family. Check out this Pinterest board I put together with all sorts of ideas to make the lesson perfect for your child. It has book ideas, worksheets, and hands on projects so you’re sure to find the right option for your family.

Have you and your kids talked about tobacco yet? What tips do you have for a successful chat?

When I married my husband, I wasn’t totally prepared for just how much singing was in my future. My in-laws love a good singalong, whether it’s at home in the living room after dinner, or out as a group at a local karaoke bar. My boys have (obviously!) never been able to attend one of the events out, and I hated them feeling left out. So I set about putting together a fun family karaoke night at home, that includes the essentials for a great musical evening. From the perfect outfit to the best karaoke system for young kids, I’ve got you covered, so keep reading!

I received free product in exchange for my honest review. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase through a link in this post, I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

HOSTING THE MOST FUN FAMILY KARAOKE NIGHT

Do Some Research

My boys weren’t super familiar with the concept of karaoke initially. (Full disclosure, #thelittleone thought the word was ‘scary-oke’ and was understandably terrified). It helps to familiarize your kiddos with the idea through a bit of research. We grabbed a few books about performing and singing to read together. Your family might love watching ‘Sing!’ together before karaoke night. Even just a few simple searches on YouTube can go a long way to ramping up enthusiasm for a fun family night!

Dress The Part

Encourage your kiddos to really get into the spirit of a fun family night! Choosing clothes they think a favorite singer might wear can be a fun way to add dramatic play to your evening. Do you have a future pop star on your hands, with pretty colors & sequins? A fan of alternative, with plaid flannel and ripped jeans? Mom & Dad can get in on the fun too, or let the kids dress you! Digging through your wardrobes for pieces you rarely wear is a fun way to really become a singer!

Add Some Accessories

Take the dress up fun a step further with some accessories you pull together for karaoke night. I raided our dress up cupboard for some goodies, and hit up our local dollar store for others. Jewels and hairbows are perfect for pop idols, while long wigs and bandannas are ideal for rockers. The possibilities are endless, so use your imagination!

Ink Up, If You Dare!

My boys are OBSESSED with temporary tattoos, and love any excuse to put some on. I can’t think of a better time than karaoke night to let them ink up! Your family will love channeling their inner rock stars with some fresh ink!

Set The Scene

Transforming your home into an exciting karaoke club is the perfect way to make family karaoke night extra special! There’s no reason it needs to be expensive or stressful to do this. Many of the touches I used came from around the house. A few were picked up from our local dollar store.

Balloon weights leftover from previous parties add the perfect amount of sparkle to the tabletop. Inexpensive plastic tablecloths work perfectly as stage curtains. I pulled the boys’ battery operated bubble machines from the garage to stand in as a fog machine. Glow jewelry and other goodies from the Dollar Tree provide easy mood lighting. Christmas lights would be another great choice. We even pulled out our essential oil diffusers and let them cycle through the colored light options while we sang!

Get The Gear

Everyone knows that a good microphone system is crucial to a successful karaoke night! My boys were recently given the Kids Singing Machine Mood Karaoke System. I can’t say enough good things about it! Set up is super simple, and basic machine operation is also very easy. Even #thelittleone could turn it on and off independently almost immediately. My kids have been having so much fun trying it out and belting out their favorite songs. [Tangent: I have now listened to the PJ Masks singalong approximately 974895729740598 times. FUN.] It’s available in several color options, so you’ll definitely find the right style for your kiddo’s taste.

The Singing Machine Mood Karaoke System offers several features that make it perfect for kids. The speaker lights up with LED lights in varying colors, adding a fun light-show effect to any singaong! The machine includes Bluetooth capabilities, to stream audio from compatible devices and apps. Echo and volume can easily by adjusted, which is great since kid’s don’t always realize quite how loud they are. (Or is that just my kids?! Tell me I’m not alone!) The system comes with 1 wired microphone, but has 2 jacks, so you can easily add another for duets or back up singers. And you can add compatible devices as well, for days when you get the whole band together!

Call For Backup

If you have a large family, or are hosting a big playgroup, you know that waiting for a turn at the microphone can be brutal for little ones. Get everyone into the act at once by recruiting back up! Simple musical instruments, whether store bought or home made are perfect for kids to play while someone sings. And while the Singing Machine Mood Karaoke System has room for 2 microphones, the company also has plenty of other options available. Check the ‘Shop This Post’ section below to check some out. We personally love our Mic Guy Bluetooth Microphone- it lights up, is simple to use, and provides plenty of amplification! Best of all, it allows everyone to join in the fun all at once.

Now that you know how to host the perfect family karaoke night, I’ve got to know! what’s YOUR go-to karaoke song? Let me know in the comments below!

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Interested in some of the essentials you see here? Pick up some of the products I used HERE!