31 Days of Open-Ended Play

14 Picture Books about Building with Blocks, Engineering, and Architecture

October 12, 2013 by Sara McClure 5 Comments

With this week’s review of BionicBlox, our new favorite engineering toy, I thought it only appropriate that I share some of my favorite books about building with blocks, engineering, and architecture. Here is a list of 14 picture books about building with blocks, engineering, and architecture.

14 Books for Little Builders, Architects, and Engineers

Changes, Changes by Pat Hutchins is a wordless book about a wooden couple that changes their building block house into other objects when the house catches on fire. It’s a clever little book that encourages children to tell the story in their own words.

Block City by Robert Louis Stevenson is a book we were introduced to last year at our children’s museum when they had a building exhibit. The illustrations are beautiful!

When I Build With Blocks by Niki Alling is a cute little book that appeals to little ones. The illustrations give little builders ideas for building–everything from outer space to oceans.

If I Built a House by Chris Van Dusen is a cute little book about the amazing things Jack would put in his dream house. I love the illustrations and there are plenty of blueprints and blocks throughout.

Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty is a funny little story of a budding architect. This one will make you and your kids giggle.

Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty is about a little girl that secretly creates at night. Super cute! Perfect for girls!

Architecture Shapes by Michael J. Crosbie is a counting book (1-10) that introduces preschoolers to shapes found in architecture.

Roberto, The Insect Architect by Nina Laden is about a termite that wants to build with wood instead of eat it. Super cute with lots of puns for adults to enjoy while reading to kids.

Arches to Zigzags: An Architecture ABC by Michael J. Crosbie is a great way to introduce architecture vocabulary in an ABC book format. Another thing that I like about this book is that it is real-life pictures.

Look at That Building: A First Book of Structures by Scot Ritchie explores how a building is constructed, from foundations to roofing — then has a practice building for kids to create themselves.

See Inside Famous Buildings (Usborne Flap Book) by Rob Lloyd Jones lets you discover and explore some of the world’s most famous buildings in a lift-the-flap book style. Super fun!

Engineering the ABC’s: How Engineers Shape Our World by Patty O’Brien Novak answers questions about how everyday things work and how engineering relates to so many parts of a child’s daily life.

Sky Boys: How They Built the Empire State Building by Deborah Hopkinson is a beautifully illustrated book about the men that built the Empire State Building in the Depression Era. I really, really like this one!

Pop’s Bridge by Eve Buntin is along the same lines as Sky Boys, but is about the building of the Golden Gate Bridge.

I hope this gives you some ideas for your little builder!

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, blocks, building, engineering, open-ended play

BionicBlox–An Engineering Toy for Open-Ended Play

October 8, 2013 by Sara McClure 4 Comments

Bionic Blox an engineering toy for open-ended play

Disclosure: I received this product for free to review. I was compensated for my time in reviewing the product and writing our experience. All opinions are my own and honest; a positive review was not required. No affiliate links are present.

As a former early childhood educator turned homeschool mom, I’m always on the look out for quality educational toys. We were recently introduced to BionicBlox and the boys have played with them every day since they arrived. It’s been a great open-ended play activity to add to our toy rotation and this review fits in perfectly with our current blog series, 31 Days of Open-ended Play.

Benefits of Playing With BionicBlox

Encourages critical thinking skills related to geometry, spatial recognition, engineering, architecture, and more.
Independent building–Jonah has a hard time when building with Legos and always wants an adult to help. It is nice because he can do these himself if I need him to entertain himself.
Encourages creativity
Strengthens Fine Motor Skills

BionicBlox an engineering toy for open-ended play

What I Love About BionicBlox

Sturdy & Durable–With a house of boys, that is important! My kids are rough on toys–these blocks passed the test!
Sanded Smooth Blocks & Larger Pieces–No worry of splinters or sharp edges. In my opinion, the blocks are large and do not pose a choking hazard.
Tight Fitting Connectors–Projects won’t fall apart easily and cause frustration in my boy that is easily frustrated.
Made in the USA–Love things made in my own backyard and putting money into our own economy!
Endless Possibilities–I love that this is an open-ended toy and gives kids the freedom to create and learn through play.

Watch our video review for a good laugh and to see the cuteness that is Jonah unscripted.

Details about BionicBlox

BionicBlox come in a variety of sets, so you can pick and choose the amount that you need for your favorite little builder. For reference, the set used in the pictures in this post are the 100 Piece Visionary Set which includes 75 Wooden Foundation Beams and 26 BionicStar Connectors in a reusable tote bag.

Interestingly, you can purchase just the BionicStar Connectors which are compatible with KAPLA Blocks, CITIBLOCS, or KEVA by Mindware. Great news if you already have some of these!

Connect With BionicBlox

BionicBlox on Facebook
BionicBlox on Twitter
BionicBlox on YouTube
BionicBlox on Google+

Want to add these to your educational toy rotation? Go to BionicBlox and use the code HOMESCHOOL10 to receive 10% off your purchase. (Coupon Code expires November 10, 2013) These would make a great Christmas gift!

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, choosing toys, open-ended play, reviews, toys

Thoughts on Play from Mr. Rogers

October 6, 2013 by Sara McClure 2 Comments

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, creative play, dramatic play, kids, open-ended play, preschool

10 Traits of Great Toys

October 5, 2013 by Sara McClure 1 Comment

Play is the work of a child. ~ Maria Montessori

If play is the work of the child, then toys are the tools children use to get the job done. Unfortunately, not all toys are created equal, so how can we decided if a toy is worth it or not? What makes a good toy? As a homeschool mom and a former early childhood educator in public schools, I have a mental list of questions I go through when choosing toys. Use the list below to help you choose great toys for kids.

10 Traits of Great Toys to help buyers find the best toys for kids

What Makes A Toy Great?

Safe

This is my number one concern. Is it sanded smooth? Does it have sharp, pointy edges? Choking hazards?

Age Appropriate

Is this toy even remotely close to the ages and stages of my kids?

Open-Ended

Does this toy encourage….Creativity? Problem Solving? Decision Making? Exploration? Imagination?

Engage vs. Entertain

Does this toy engage my child and encourage play, or does it simple entertain them while the kids watch?

Shelf Life

Will this toy grow with my child? Can it be used for more than its original intent?

Durable & Sturdy

Can the toy take a beating? I have boys…enough said.

Educational

Not all of the toys I buy are labeled educational, but this is a plus. When I say educational, I don’t mean that it has to scream ABC’s and 123’s, but it would get bonus points for integrating learning.

Aesthetic Appeal & Noises

Does this look like something anyone would want to play with? I’m not one to judge a book by it’s cover, but seriously, certain baby dolls are just ugly. We’re not prudes, but we don’t like ugly or scary looking toys around here. Also, if the toy randomly breaks into song or has lots of annoying sounds, it won’t last long around here…ahem.

Easy Storage

I don’t have endless amounts of room for toys. Is the toy easily stored? Will it take up a lot of room?

Fun

This is the ultimate test. If it isn’t fun, it is pointless.

Tell me: How do you choose toys?

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, children, choosing toys, kids, open-ended play, toys

Throwing out the Script to Engage in Open-Ended Play

October 4, 2013 by Sara McClure 2 Comments

Throwing out the script to engage in open-ended play

Beep-Beep! Chugga-Chugga! Vroom-Vroom!

If my days had a soundtrack, those sounds would definitely dominate the playlist. If a toy has wheels, my boys love it. If the toy has sounds and batteries, I’m a tad bit more selective.

In these modern days with iPads, smart phones, and buttons at every turn, I find myself a bit old fashioned in my toy selections. Sure, we have electronics in our home, but we don’t go hog wild. Instead, we try to make sure that we are removing the biggest obstacle for open-ended play and providing toys to engage them.

When we choose toys that come with limited purposes and lots of bells and whistles, we essentially hand our kids a script and rob them of creativity. When we hand our kids a toy with only one purpose, they use it, get tired of it, and move on. Too often, we walk through the toy store and get blinded by all the lights and noises. If we’re being honest here, and we totally are, most of us regret these toys by the time the wrapping paper is cleaned up and the batteries are placed within.

wrapping paper

Providing open-ended toys with multiple uses allows children to write their own storyline and build their own stage. There isn’t a script written by someone else—they can make their own noises and decided how the toy should be used. With open-ended toys there isn’t a right or wrong way to play.

Are you ready to throw out the script?

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, Uncategorized Tagged With: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, creative play, dramatic play, kids, open-ended play, preschool, toys

The Biggest Obstacle to Open-Ended Play

October 3, 2013 by Sara McClure 2 Comments

Biggest Obstacle to Open-ended Play
One of the biggest obstacles to open-ended play is time. Too often, a child’s day is too scheduled to allow them the time to immerse themselves in make-believe. With the hurry and the rush, rush, rushing to and fro for activities, kids barely have time to read a book and snuggle before bed, let alone build a block castle, have a knight storm the gates to kill the dragon, and save the princess. The next day we rinse and repeat. This is something that we all struggle with whether you work outside of the home or not, me included.

Open-ended play requires time—to create, to discover, to converse. When we allow children to have time to explore play without expectations, we are giving them a gift. The freedom to play invites children to enter in the world of make-believe and creativity. It’s a magical world where they make the rules and write the storyline. When we cut this short or cut it out all together, we stifle creativity, problem-solving, decision making, and more.

open-ended play

Kindergarten used to be full of block centers, dress-up, and housekeeping areas. Then someone “smart” decided children needed to be “learning more” at a younger age, so we sent those things to preschool, Kindergarten became First grade, and we experienced a cultural shift. The pressure on young students (and their teachers!) to perform and compete with test scores has skyrocketed over the past decade or so is tremendous. Personally, I think these demands are NOT developmentally appropriate, and will possibly come back to bite us…or maybe they already have.

Knowing that, I think it is even more important that we, as parents, make sure to give our children the freedom to play by removing the obstacle of limited time.

Will you join me? Let’s make a pledge to give our kids the freedom to play!

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.

Filed Under: 31 Days of Open-Ended Play, Uncategorized

The What & Why of Open-Ended Play

October 2, 2013 by Sara McClure 1 Comment

The What and Why of Open-ended Play

How many times have you given a child the latest, expensive toy only to have them unwrap it and find more pleasure in the wrapping paper and box than the toy inside? It happens all the time. Little did you know you just provided an open-ended play experience!

tissue paper play

What is Open-Ended Play?

Open-ended play is, quite literally, simple.

In open-ended play, seemingly simple toys or materials are transformed into creative, imaginative play by children. There are no “rules” when it comes to open-ended play—no sequence of events to follow, no right or wrong ways to play, no pressure to produce a specific product. Basically, a child engaged in open-ended play is going with the flow. It’s all about freedom—the freedom to invent and discover.

Why Open-Ended Play?

By nature, children are curious and creative. Hand them a box or a stick and they can come up with multiple ways to play. Open-ended materials don’t require batteries, wind up, or make noises. Sorry, Tickle Me Elmo. Open-ended play requires children to make decisions, problem solve, and think critically–traits most parents desire for their children.

While directed play has its place, open-ended play is, in my opinion, more important in the early years. Often, open-ended play experiences involve conversations—a chance to work on manners, speech, and personal interactions–all developing skills in the early years. Some of these activities help develop fine motor skills.

Simply put, open-ended play is the business of being a kid and allowing them to just…be.

Tell me: What other benefits can you see to open-ended play?

This post is a part of the series, 31 Days of Open-Ended Play. Be sure to read all the posts in the series for more great ideas for encouraging learning and creativity through open-ended play.