Customer Reviews

Guidecraft Sand Rainbow Blocks

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

My four-year-old daughter received these blocks for her birthday, along with a set of water blocks. What an ingenious idea! I have a 10-month-old too and both kids love to build towers and knock them down just to see what the sand and water will do inside. Built out of durable wood and plastic, I have no worries that I'll end up with colored sand or water spots on our rug or hardwood floors. Kudos to the inventor of this toy... must be a big kid just like myself! I have just as much fun with these blocks as my kids do.

I ordered these along with PLAN TOYS WATER BLOCKS which are also available here. The Plan Toy blocks are better quality with perfectly smooth wooden surfaces while these blocks have some roughness to them - i am afraid the kids might get a splinter from these. Also the water blocks add a new dimension to the fun as water is transparent and my 2.5yr old invented new games by holding a colored water block against his eyes and enjoy watching the world around him from a different hue. Also he likes when he place those blocks by the lamp and they cast colorful shadows. As to the strength of these sand blocks, he like to shake these and enjoy the "snick-snack" sound that the sand granules make. But if i had the chance to examine both sets in hand before purchasing, i would definitely have bought two of Plsn Toy ones. This toy itself is not bad as you can see from my ratings, it just pales against a higher quality counter-part.

Bought these blocks in 2009 (bought all 3 sets - water, sand and beads) and they are still being enjoyed by my granddaughter (now 3 yrs old). The water filled ones are still clear, not cloudy, and still no leaks which happens with some cheaper sets. Still give them a 5-star rating!

I ordered these sand blocks because my husband and I are hoping to get away from battery operated things and video games...we are wanting our children to use their imaginations more. We purchased these as well as additional regular unit blocks and the water blocks. These blocks were not in good order. The center channel that was cut out to fit the plexiglas encased sand was not glued in place (due to shipping, age...I am not sure). When we received the product it looked like it was not in brand new shape but that may have been due to a rough shipping experience. The sand centers were not glued into the middles and moved freely. There was also a lot of sand escaping from the plexiglas. I understand some sand escaping but this was evidence again that either these were not well made, not new or had a very bad shipping experience. We notified the seller and immediately they responded to dispose of the items and they would refund the price of the item. I wish that the sand blocks were as great as the seller. I know that the shipping was hard on the item but I am not sure if that is the only reason that the sand blocks were not in good condition. I expect that if we order this item again we will find either a similar issue (damage due to shipping or length of time that the item has been sitting waiting for someone to buy it) or a nicer product.

So, these blocks are expensive in my opinion. 10 blocks for over $20. But, as a special gift, to supplement a traditional/basic wooden block set they're great. I got the mirrored set for my son who loves gazing in mirrors and this sand filled version for his twin sister, she likes movement and color. The quality appears good, in that they wont fall apart any time soon, it seems.

However, the sand does leave a residue of sorts on the 'window' of the block so they dont appear as clear and crisp as this picture. there's a light haze of color on whatever part of the window not filled with sand, if that makes any sense. The sand colors dont come across quite as vibrant, and the box of sand wiggles a bit inside the wooden frame, although it seems it would not fall out...

So, a splurge, and a bit less impressive, but I would buy them again...!

This is a well made product that is not only lovely but educational as well. They are very loved and enjoyed!