Constructive Playthings

When I was growing up, my parents bought my brother and I a lot of creative toys to build and play with.

Unlike a lot of today's lines of toys, these toys came with no back story or plot. There was no scripted "right way" to play with them, or complex steps. We just picked them up and developed our mind and imagination.

Now, as a father of two sons, I also want them to play with Math manipulatives that develop their math and logic skills. Also, toys that allow them to use their hands and build creative things.

I still let my older son (6 years) play video games on the computer and iPad, but I want to balance them with real world toys and games. Instead of just working on a screen, he can experience real parts, and develop his motor skills by building.

I especially like it when he uses blocks and connectors without a pre-existing set of plans and, instead, builds his own creations from his imagination.

My 10 month old son loves blocks and tactile toys. He can't build things yet, but he enjoys picking up and banging parts, and putting them in his mouth. At this stage, we need large parts that can't break apart - to protect him from choking.