Wooden Unit Blocks
Wooden unit blocks are made of hard wood. They are sanded and measured in precise measurements. The precise measurements and weights of the blocks make it extremely easy for children to stack these blocks into elaborate structures. Wooden unit blocks can be expensive and you should consider them an investment. Similar to high-quality tools and cookware, wooden unit blocks will last through your child's lifetime and can be handed down to your future grandchildren.
Legos
Legos are small, plastic blocks that can be put together to make anything from a simple house to an entire city, complete with replicas of the Empire State building. Sized from large blocks for infants to smaller blocks for older children with developed motor skills, Lego blocks grow with your child. Legos are also used to help autistic children break out of repetitive activities and create something new, according to a study in the Journal of Applied Behavioral Analysis by researchers at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC). In recent years, Lego also created Lego Minestorm robotics systems. Using Mindstorm, older children can create and program Lego robots to perform tasks such as retrieving items or identifying sounds and colors.
Kapla Blocks
Kapla blocks are small, wooden planks of the same size and dimension. They are sold in sets of 30 to 1,000 and are produced in France. The idea behind Kapla blocks is simple; by building with blocks of the same size and weight, children will develop an increased aptitude for manipulating 3-D objects in space. The National Education System in France uses Kapla blocks as a learning tool in their classrooms. You may also find huge sets of Kapla blocks at many children's museums in the United States. Due to the high quality of the blocks, Kapla blocks are also a toy that can be handed down from generation to generation.
Rokenboks
Rokenboks are plastic blocks designed for children to easily create vehicles and buildings. If your small child positions the blocks close together, the self-aligning cones on the blocks guide the block in place. With a quick squeeze, the blocks snap together. The "squeeze, then snap" technique prevents preschoolers with developing motor skills from getting frustrated with the blocks. Seymour Papert, a professor at MIT, describes blocks such as Rokenbloks as the perfect toy since they can be used by a child with little experience and grow with the child as he matures.