When your children are tiny, some of the first toys they learn to play with are building blocks. They come in all shapes and sizes and in as many colors as you can think of! When picking out blocks for toys, there are lots of things to consider. One of the most important details to think about is the actual material they are made of. Your child's age may be a main factor that determines what type of building blocks they play with.

The younger they are the more necessary it becomes to check out blocks that are softer and lighter. Giant cardboard building blocks, for example, are extremely light-weight, easy to handle, and are so sturdy that even your infant whose just sitting up can fall over on them without breaking them or injuring herself. These building blocks will help your little one develop his motor skills while stacking them, and greatly expand his imagination at the same time.

As the child gets older, you can choose some of the well-crafted wooden blocks that often have the alphabet and numbers printed or carved on them. While still developing her motor skills, she'll also be exploring her world with letters and numbers. This could be her first step towards spelling and reading. It will also help her learn to count. Another great benefit to these types of blocks is the ability to feel new textures and see new colors. Children should start to associate a red letter "A" block with their red ball. This is all an essential part of learning, and they'll have fun with it too.

The possibilities are really endless when it comes to giving your child blocks to play with. Some of my son's favorite ones are his farm animal blocks. He loves to pretend with them making each animal sound as he goes. This lets him explore the world and helps him make the connection between his wooden pigs and cows with the real thing he sees on the farm. As he gets even older and his coordination has improved, www.1888Toys.com has blocks that connect to one another with a series of grooves and notches providing sturdy links so he can build tractors, cars, buildings, really anything he wants in 3-D.

It's important to know that playing with building blocks is both educational for your child and a vital step in developing the necessary skills as she grows. Whether you have a baby just rolling over or a rambunctious grade-schooler, building blocks are certainly a favorite toy for him, and a great tool for you to have.

 About the Author

Marina Neiman, author and mother of two, writes for www.1888Toys.com - Children Educational Toys Store, featuring broad selection of educational toys and learning games for children of all ages, along with a library of informative articles for parents.