Customer Reviews

Brilliant Basics - Baby's First Blocks

5 star:		(71)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

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.

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!

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.

This is a really easy and inexpensive shape sorter for your baby. Some shape sorters are easy to put the shapes in but then the parent/carer has to help the baby get the shapes out again.

This is not one of those toys. The lid comes on and off easily so the shapes can be taken out or tipped out. Baby will also have fun just putting the shapes in and out of the container and then for a challenge actually put the shapes through the holes.

A great little shape sorter - easy to keep clean, extremely durable and lots of fun for baby. A great game to play together.

We bought this toy for my son for easter he was 6 months old. I wasn't sure he would really pay much attention to it. But he loves it. At first he would just take the top off and chew on it or just watch me as I put the shapes in saying the names and colors. Then he found out he could take the blocks out...which is his favorite thing to do now. I put them in and he takes them out and puts the bucket on his face and yells in it and jus laughs and then he puts a block in it and bangs it around. He loves it. And I love the shapes and bright colors. This toy will last a long time and can be used in many different ways.
As far as the lid coming off too easy well yeah but it's supposed to....that is part of learning...A 6 month old has to be able to get the blocks out on their own.
I would recommend this toy to a parent looking for something that will last for a long time and is fun and educational.

My Nephew received this block sorter.
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.

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.

I Normally Say "put the block in the tub" or "put the car in here" and he does and he loves his blocks cause he can chew and thorw them at the floor and "dump" them all out and make me clean them up!

Over all its a great toy for any age infant/toddler!

My daughter has been playing with this set of blocks since she was 6 months old. Well, I should say, at that point, she was just playing with the yellow box. This deceivingly simple-looking set of blocks and container contain so much play value and developmental enrichment - I just cannot recomend it highly enough. As one of the spotlight reviewers said - with so many toys out there with all sorts of bells and whistles, it's this simple one that she comes back to again and again. She is now 14 months old and spends a solid 15 minutes every morning dumping the blocks out and putting them back in. Sometimes she uses the sorter too, but what's nice about this set is we can use that later on to add an additional layer of play value to the toy for her. It's developmentally enriching, it's colorful, it's so much fun, and it's $10! Whether for your child or a gift, it's an absolute guaranteed hit. (Ok, have I gushed enough?) :-)

My daughter is 10 months old, we bought this for her two months ago. At first she would just suck on the shapes, and watch me put the shapes in the bucket, then she would take them out. Now she puts them in and takes them out. I cant wait til she figures out how to put the shapes in the bucket using the shape holes. This toy keeps her entertained a long time and it's quiet. The top does come off easily, but she doesnt care. She would get frustrated if it didnt.

Another mom got this as a gift for my son when he was around 6 months old. At first he just liked dumping out the blocks and looking at the lid. Now at 13 months he is putting the blocks in the right holes and still has fun with it.

I bought this toy because I thought it would be nice to have something simple with no batteries, and have not been disappointed. My 10 month old loves this toy. He plays with it every day. The blocks are just the right size for little hands to hold. My son also like to use the bin to try to stand on, and it was sturdy enough for that activity. And, it has survived much banging and chewing with no visible damage (yet).