Hobbies And Interests
Straws and Connectors
Straws and connectors are simple, easy to use building toys that allow kids to make all sorts of things. Sold in packages of 230 or 705 pieces, the straws are 12-inch long sturdy plastic tubes and the connectors are star-shaped with six rounded points. Children can building boats, houses and other cool constructions by interlocking the colorful pieces. This toy is best for kids older than the age of five because the connectors are small and could be a choking hazard for very young children.
Legos and Duplos
As far as great building toys for kids go, Legos are an oldie but a goodie. These small plastic bricks come in numerous colors and shapes, and children can spend hours constructing all types of objects. Sold in sets with instructions so that kids can build specific items like spaceships or race cars, basic Lego shapes can also be purchased separately. Legos remain interesting to many kids well into their teenage years, and quite a few adults enjoy a Lego building session as well. Legos are too small for young children, but the company also has a wonderful line of Duplos, which are bigger building blocks and easier for smaller hands to manipulate.
Lincoln Logs
These wooden logs in different shapes and sizes are one of the best building toys available for kids of many ages. Made from environmentally friendly materials, Lincoln Logs can be laid out and stacked in an endless variety of layouts to create log cabins, farms and ranches. Like most building tools, the more pieces that are available, the more fun the children can have.
Anker Stone Building Blocks
Anker Stones are similar in design to Legos, but they are made of natural materials like chalk, quartz sand and linseed oil. They feel like miniature bricks and can be used to make intricate and architecturally accurate constructions such as castles, towers and bridges. One set can even be used to recreate the Empire State Building. Colored with natural pigment, the stones develop a beautiful patina over time and are better for the environment than plastic counterparts.
Magnetic Building Toys
Most kids are fascinated by magnets, so it's no wonder that building toys that incorporate magnetics offer some great construction sets. Geomag offers a number of sets that include simple steel balls and magnetic rods that can be used to create all sorts of shapes. Magnatiles help kids investigate geometry, architecture and symmetry while manipulating a series of brightly colored tiles, magnetic on all sides, that can connect to make both 2-D and 3-D creations. Younger kids can also get into magnetic building with a jumbo set of balls and rods offered by Magneatos.