A playtime cornerstone for kids, block options abound

Building and construction toys have been a fixture in playrooms since, well, forever, and there are several reasons for their enduring appeal.

“Directions aren’t necessary. No rules or instructions are needed. Children are just provided space to grow,” said Judith Ellis, founder and chairwoman of the Toy Design department at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology.

“Construction toys empower children. They offer a child a chance to be adventurous – to ask, ‘what if,’ to think abstractly, developing creative intelligence. Building develops strategic thinking. It provides visionary perspective and it increases attention spans,” Ellis said.

While Lego and Mega Blox are category stalwarts, there are other interesting options to consider.

At the recent Toy Fair 2014 in New York, the building category was robust, according to Adrienne Apell, trends specialist for the Toy Industry Association.

“It’s been very hot, and that’s going to continue,” she said. “We love this trend because it speaks to the fact that classic play patterns appeal to kids, generation after generation.”

Parents enjoy building, too, and bring their own childhood memories to the play table.

Magna-Tiles are colorful geometric tiles with embedded magnets along the edges. Translucent tile sets make see-through creations, including “stained glass” windows. The plastic is pthalate- and latex-free. (www.magnatiles.com)

Tegu blocks are also magnetized but are crafted of wood, harvested by cooperatives in Honduras certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The smooth-sided blocks, rectangles and triangles come in soft, natural colors in both starter-set sizes (with a felt travel pouch) and larger sets of 40 to 480 pieces. (www.tegu.com)

Toddler builders might like Edushape’s sturdy foam blocks and shapes. After mastering the simple blocks, kids can graduate to Kiddy Connects – a collection of snap-and-lock plastic pieces that include elbows and other unusual shapes. (www.edushape.com)

K’nex has kits to make simple machines like windmills, sail carts, water mills, elevators and levers, allowing kids to tinker with concepts they may have been exposed to in the classroom. (www.knex.com)

For kids who are always taking apart broken appliances, consider littleBits. It offers what you need to make electronic circuits, but without worrying about wiring, programming or soldering. The magnet-embedded modules snap together, and you can add buzzers, lights or other components to create more elaborate contraptions. An online library offers free plans, and you can share your creations there. (www.littlebits.cc)