Wood building blocks

[vonfirmath]

There are SO many choices for wood building blocks... how does one choose? Haba (who has several different sets!), Plan Toys, Uncle Wiggly, Barclay blocks (http://www.barclaywoods.com/), Maple Landmark (http://www.maplelandmark.com/), Guidecraft, etc.

Also, what is the difference between the unit blocks (such as those sold by Melissa & Doug) and regular building blocks?

We have the Fisher Price plastic blocks, but they don't stack as well as the wood we've seen elsewhere.

ETA Community Plaything (http://www.communityplaythings.com/products/blocks/unitblocks/index.html, though they are expensive)

[fivi2]

We bought the M&D unit blocks on sale at Amazon. We have been very happy with them and the girls play with them quite a bit. I hope to add to our set at christmas.

unit blocks are a standard measurement. two squares make a rectangle, two triangles make the same size square... (I am not explaining this well!) They are a good size and weight. Other building blocks tend to be smaller and lighter and the sizes aren't standardized....

I am sure someone else will have a better explanation!

[brittone2]

we've been happy with the M&D rubberwood ones. I bought two sets at 40% off and my kids enjoy them and have played with them for a few years now. Barclay, maplelandmark, etc. are lovely and if price is no object, they are wonderful.

Unit blocks are thought to build an understanding of mathematical relationships in a child's mind because of how their sizes relate nicely to one another. (so two square blocks are the same length as one rectangle. Two triangles are the same size as a square, etc. etc.

[kristac]

We have 2 sets of M&D (bought at AC Moore with 50% off Q's) and another set I believe is Guidecraft. Then we have some additional pieces (quad units, ramps, doors, roof pieces, etc) from Constructive Playthings. And Guidecraft block mates. Can you tell we like unit blocks??!

http://www.cptoys.com/cptoys.com/school/product_images/PCR-62.jpg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41xVvD5hA%2BL._SL500_AA280_.jpg

We also have a set of smaller wood blocks from TRU (imaginirium I believe) but the Unit blocks get far more play.