Building Blocks

Who says all building blocks have to look the same? Here are some cool, unique choices that will inspire builders to get busy.


Barkless Tree Blocks
Ages: All!
Eco-friendly blocks made out of real branches. These beautiful blocks will add something special to any child's play room!




Magz Bricks
Ages: 3 and up
These bricks are magnetic! Feel the magnetic force as you build!




Brain Flakes 
Ages: 3 and up
Each Brain Flake is shaped sort of like a snow flake. You can lock the flakes together to create awesome 3-D works of art! 


Hexactly
Ages 3 and up
These blocks are shaped like hexagons, and can be balanced in wacky and surprising ways. Includes a booklet with challenges that kids can try to make.


Straws And Connectors
Ages 3 and up
The name says it all! These are basically large plastic straws, with little pieces you can use to connect them to each other. I saw these used at a child care event where I was working. The kids were using them to build a fort. They'd use the straws to create the structure of the fort, and then they covered it with blankets or table cloths to make walls.


Magformers 
Ages: 3 and up
These magnetic shapes can be used to make all sorts of cool 3-D designs!


Light Stax
Ages: 3 and up
What is special about these blocks? The base is powered. As you add each block onto the base, it lights up!

Giant 40" Spider Web Swing

Giant 40" Spider Web Swing
Ages: 5 to adult
Little kids love to swing. But so do adults... especially those with autism or sensory processing needs! While there are plenty of swings available for children, this one is cool because it will support up to 250 pounds.

Whats Inside? Feely Box

Whats Inside? Soft Feely Box
Ages: 2 and up
This is a toy that is meant to help children pay attention to their senses. One person (probably an adult, at least at first) hides something (either one of the little objects that comes with it, or another small object from your own house) inside the box. The other player then has to stick their hand into the opening on the side of the box and, using only their sense of touch, try to guess what the object is.
For beginning players, or players with limited speech ability, what I would do would be to print out choice cards with pictures of the possible items. The child could then choose the picture that they think matches the object in the box. You could start out by just offering the child two choices (the correct item and a second item) and then making it harder by adding more and more choices.
Because of the fact that you can add your own small objects, the opportunities for this game are endless! I have seen this used a lot by speech pathologists, and it is always a big hit with kids.

ENI Cylindrical Puzzle With Braille

ENI Cylindrical Puzzle With Braille
Ages: 5 and up
From the makers of Bananagrams, this is a puzzle that requires you to rotate and slide colored tiles around to make specific patterns. It is similar to the idea of a Rubik Cube! This version also has braille letters on each tile, so a visually impaired person who uses braille can also play. You can also use it as a fidget toy! (It also comes in a small version on a keychain!)

Telepathy Board Game

Telepathy
Ages: 9 and up
Number of players: 2 to 4
If you liked Battleship, then this game is for you! (Don't worry, you don't need to be psychic.) The game is designed as a grid, with different colored squares, and a symbol in each square. A player needs to figure out the other player's row, column, color and symbol, by asking yes or no questions and using deductive reasoning.  It sounds like fun to me!

Izzi, by Thinkfun

 Izzi
Ages: 8 to adult
Number of players: 1 (or 2 working together)
This is a visual logic puzzle. The squares have different patterns on them. The object is to arrange the squares into one large square, but each edge of each individual square must match the edge of the individual square it is touching. It sounds challenging!

Colorku

Colorku
Ages: 8 to adult
Number of Players: 1 (or 2 working together)
Colorku is a game I really have my eye on! This is similar to Sodoku, but instead of using a paper and pencils, you use colored marbles. There are 104 different puzzles, with 5 levels of difficulty. The description says ages 8 to 12, but I think this would also be a great gift for teenage and adult logic puzzle lovers.This one is on my Christmas list!

No Stress Chess

No Stress Chess
Ages: 6 to adult
Number of players; 2
Do you know a kid who you think would just love the game of chess... but you don't really know how to play, or how to teach it to someone else? This chess game guides you along and teaches you how to play step by step. Players draw from a deck of cards. Each card specifies a chess piece and tells you about the different moves it can make. You then use that piece and choose a move to make. Before long, you'll be able to play without the help of the cards! Here is a video demo about how the game works.

Animal Logic, by Fat Brain Toys

Animal Logic
Ages: 5 to 10
Number of players: 1 or more
The object of this game is to help a bunch of animals to cross a river before the water rises too high. The animals can only cross the river one at a time, in a particular order. Children must figure out the correct order to win the game! I found this amusing video that shows more about how to play the game.