Brilliant Basics - Baby's First Blocks

by Fisher-Price

Product Features

• Three colorful shapes fit through openings in the shape-sorting lid
• Helps baby learn about identifying and matching shapes
• Set includes bucket with lid and 12 blocks

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 5.6 x 8.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000789TI
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: B1068
• Manufacturer recommended age: 6 months - 3 years
• Batteries: 3 AA batteries required. (included)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #134,166 in Toys & Games (See Top 100 in Toys & Games)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (99 customer reviews)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Brightly colored shaped blocks are ready for baby to sort, stack, and drop right through the shape-sorting lid. Repeating such simple tasks can help your baby learn about identifying and matching shapes. Placing blocks in the bucket helps develop hand-eye coordination. Plus, grasping and sorting the blocks helps develop dexterity. It's fundamental play that enriches baby's development -- in a brilliant way. Set includes bucket with lid and 12 blocks.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

71 of 73 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Long-Lasting and Versatile Toy, February 11, 2005

By 

D. R. Jeanclerc "Reader, Listener & Obsessive... (Brunswick, OH USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:4.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:4.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Brilliant Basics - Baby's First Blocks (Baby Product)

Our son received this block sorter when he was only about nine months old. He's two now and still plays with it frequently. Very few toys can claim to pass the tests of being interesting and educational throughout such a long span in the baby-into-toddler period.

The block sorter itself is a tub about the size of a half-gallon milk jug. The sorter lid sits atop the tub; it fits securely but doesn't lock down with any tabs or snaps that would frustrate a child. On the flip side, this means that turning it over dumps the blocks everywhere, although that's a primary means of enjoyment for our two-year-old now!

The set comes with about a dozen blocks in assorted colors (red, blue and green) and shapes (circle, square, triangle and star). All of the pieces are solidly constructed for lots of use. The blocks are sized appropriately to be easily grasped by baby hands without being so small as to present a choking hazard.

Early on, our son just liked to see the blocks spread out in front of him. We'd name off the colors and shapes and he'd enjoy picking them up and feeling their shape and texture. Eventually, he began his take-out-and-put-away phase and these provided lots of fulfillment for him. However, he wasn't quite ready for the lid, so he would leave it off. Now, he enjoys matching the shapes to the holes in the lid and working on his fine motor skills by turning and flipping the blocks in his hands. We also use them to reinforce the names of the shapes and colors and he's using them to learn and repeat these words.

The baby/infant/toddler toy market is flooded with battery-operated, hyperactive button-pressing sound machines disguised as "learning" toys. It's great to find one such as this that takes a comparatively simple concept and pays big dividends in fun and learning. Its low price and quality construction make Baby's First Blocks an excellent value as well.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MUST Have Classic, Educational & Fun Toy, February 1, 2005

By 

Maciels - See all my reviews

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Brilliant Basics - Baby's First Blocks (Baby Product)

Lately I realized how absolutely refreshing it is to still find toys that stimulate children without all the bells and whistles...flashing lights, singing, dancing, moving, vibrating. It's as though the toy manufacturers are doing back flips to get our attention. I really appreciate this classic toy. It is durable and educational without inundating us with noise! My son has loved this set since he was about 5 mos. old. He loved to practice taking the lid off and dumping the blocks out. Then I would place the blocks halfway through the holes and show him how to push them. He simply loved it. Now he is learning to identify the different shapes. I definitely recommend this product for babies, especially those who are already sitting. My sister's kids, age 20 mos. and 2 1/2 enjoy these blocks, too!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So now there are rules for how a baby should play?????, July 6, 2004

By A Customer

= Durability:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars  = Educational:5.0 out of 5 stars 

This review is from: Brilliant Basics - Baby's First Blocks (Baby Product)

We have an older version of this toy (only three different shapes on ours) that we have had since my second child was a baby. Now baby number six is using it and they ALL have loved it! It's one of the few toys I've saved between kids and I'll most likely keep it for all my future kids and grandkids!

I take issue with the complaints that children don't play with the toy "properly". Are we dictating how children should play, now, too, as well as learn?? Even babies have to follow the rules and do things according to someone else's pre-determined idea of "proper development"? PLEASE!! Let's let babies be babies. True learning is self-directed, not teacher or parent directed.

Yes, toddlers usually prefer to dump the blocks out and put them back in without the lid at first, maybe for quite a while. They also love putting other stuff in the bucket. What's wrong with that? When they're older they usually figure out the shape-sorting aspect on their own and become enthralled with that for a while. If they never use the toy as a shape-sorter so what? They'll still learn their shapes on their own without you "teaching" them and they'll learn whatever other "skills" this toy is supposed to teach as well. Can we not try to controll our kids' learning at such a young age - there's enough of that later for most kids.

This toy is a useful learning tool, though not neccesarily in the way every parent will want. It's also fun and relatively cheap and more durable than a cardboard box or some homemade alternatives. If you can allow your child to use it as they desire I highly recommend it. If you feel your toy "investment" must pay off with a pre-determined "learning objective" on a pre-determind timetable then maybe you better skip it.