Bristle Blocks or toys similar

[jamsmu]

We had or conference today with DS' teacher. She recommended toys that you can put together and take apart, like Bristle Blocks. Any recommendations for some fun new toys? DH is all about buying cool toys, especially with permission from the teacher, so suggest like crazy... its shopping time!

[kboyle]

I loved bristle blocks when I was little and found them at a local toy store around the holidays, I think I might get them for DS1 for Valentine's Day!!

If you are looking for something like bristle blocks Fisher-price now makes Peek-a-Blocks that have bristley top/bottom so you can build
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/img/product_shots/J5729_b_2.jpg
http://www.fisher-price.com/us/infanttoys/product.asp?id=35244&media=484536&history=2&s=bupeek&index=2&pos=2

I found these at Target last week and may purchase a bucket of these too.

Have fun buying new cool toys. If you find others that are like these, please post, I'm all for fun new toys too!

[TaChapm]

My mom bought Jackson a set of bristle blocks with a table to build on for Christmas. Jackson LOVES them! I think she got them at Ross or Bed Bath and Beyond.

Tara
Mommy to Jackson 11-10-02
Tyler William 6-9-05
OMG!!! Baby #3 Due September 5, 2006!

http://b4.lilypie.com/gzWfm8.png

http://b1.lilypie.com/kLMem8.png

http://bd.lilypie.com/UEZ3m8.png

[Ohio_Mom]

I found a set of bristle blocks at Marshall's in a neat red plastic carrying case for less than $10. But that was around Christmas, and I don't know if they still have them in stock. It might be worth checking out, though! It was a great deal.

[lizamann]

Mr. Potatohead? Not at all like Bristle Blocks, but it fits the "put together and take apart" recommendation. I know that dd loves hers.

DD also likes her Haba Klettinos, which are velcro animal parts:
https://www.naturalfamilyboutique.com/shop/products/h-1009.aspx?=annie

And in the same vein, this magnetic makin' faces tin:
http://tinyurl.com/7gwaq

The magnets (and maybe Mr. Potatohead?) are not recommended for under three, though dd loves hers.

[californiagirl]

Discount School Supply has a pile of things you can take apart and put together; here are the bristle blocks:
http://www.discountschoolsupply.com/product/product.asp?sku=3403

Oriental Trading Company also has them:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/otcweb/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=60/3001&mode=Searching&searchDestinationJSP=/search/searchMain.jsp&erec=6&D=block&No=12&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntt=block&N=0&y=0&x=0&Ntk=all

Plus people to go with them:
http://www.orientaltrading.com/otcweb/application?namespace=browse&origin=searchMain.jsp&event=link.itemDetails&demandPrefix=12&sku=60/3022&mode=Searching&searchDestinationJSP=/search/searchMain.jsp&erec=9&D=block&No=36&Dx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntx=mode%252bmatchallpartial&Ntt=block&N=0&y=0&x=0&Ntk=all

[brittone2]

Edited to clarify and add some links...

It depends on what exactly they are working on specifically, and what difficulty level you need/want. Is her goal more related to working on the idea of building in general with him, or using two hands together (bimanual integration), or just general hand strengthening?

Some random ideas depending on skill level and what they are working on specifically are the giant pop beads, pop-onz, velcro blocks, mega blocks/bigger lego types of blocks...I'm not sure what level of difficulty he needs right now but just tossing ideas out there.

Velcro play food? Anything with velcro connectors is good for hand strength/fine motor skills.

If it is just general fine motor/stacking/building stuff, a peg board is nice (discovery toys makes one).

The teacher should be able to get you some therapy catalogs to order out of if there's anything specific you want that a regular story might not carry (like the velcro blocks).

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0006GBCK0/qid=1138240262/br=1-20/ref=br_lf_t_20//104-3130715-4236707?v=glance&s=
toys&n=12945811

http://www.theraproducts.com/index.php?main_page=product_therapro_info&cPath=6927_6929&products_id=72499

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/stores/detail/-/toys/B00020XJ5G/qid%3D1138240426/sr%3D11-1/ref%3Dsr%5F11%5F1/104-3130715-4236707

I'd run some of those ideas by her and see if she thinks any of them are appropriate before shelling out the $$. Just throwing out some random ideas depending on what they are working on specifically.

[elliput]

DD received the Bucket o' Builder Peek a Blocks for her birthday and really likes them. Some other features of these besides the ability to stack them is that they more three dimensional and tactile than the originals. For example the block with the flamingo - the picture is recessed in the block and on the opposite side the flamingo is in bas relief. The block under the flamingo in the picture has sliders on each side, and the red block with the blue top you are able to rotate the animal (I think it is a monkey).

[MelissaTC]

From Lakeshore Learning-

http://tinyurl.com/bton4
http://www.lakeshorelearning.com/Images/Catalog/ProductImages/full/bt750_f.jpg

DS has something similar and LOVES them. They are alot of fun!

[August Mom]

DS really likes the Lauri Locktagons. It's good for fine motor coordination because you fit the small slots in the pieces together. You build up or out. DS makes snakes, cars, houses (you have to use your imagination :)) but he does enjoy them. http://www.lauritoys.com/products/2601/index.html

Lauri also makes stacking pegs that might work (we don't have these, though). http://www.teacherstorehouse.com/product2.asp?product_key=60428&order_key=&goto=product%5Fsearch%2Easp%3Fterm%3D

[jamsmu]

I love all of your ideas!

The reason she recommended the toys is not for fine motor skills, but I love the idea of them being good for that anyway.

I took a credit over to TRU yesterday. They didn't have Bristle Blocks, but I ended up getting Kid K'Nex and Lincoln Logs. We only planned to open one this weekend and save the 2nd for another time, but DS ended up finding both. Anyway, the Kid K'Nex were MY faves. I can play with them for HOURS! But they are more challenging for little hands. DS loves building and creating with us, but not so much on his own. He created a golf club with 2 pieces right away, but kept asking us to build helicopters and airplanes.

The Lincoln Logs, though, he loved. I think DH was surprised at how quickly DS "got it" with the stacking. He needs help to remember that you have to build in a square, and gentle reminders to crisscross, but he was quick to start to build a barn and a stable.

Keep your ideas coming--we love creative toys!

Also, we gave DS the Lauri Pegs for his b-day. They are a GREAT quiet time toy! DS would never know they're a math manipulative!