gift guide: for kids of all ages who love to build
/Around here, my two boys are big fans of building materials. At ages three and eight, we have many years of construction under our belts, and as a parent who does not tolerate noisy toys well and does value toys that hold their attention for longer than three minutes, these are some of our all-time favorites.
The Nugget
We are the proud owners of not just one Nugget, but two, and I can confidently say that they are the most played with items in our house by both kids. As in, daily, for the past four years. When Zane was an infant, we actually replaced our coffee table with a Nugget so we could have one less area to baby proof as he began moving around. Not only do they stand up to the wear-and-tear of two energetic boys (and let’s just say they are NOT gentle with them), but they can function as SO MANY THINGS. Seriously. All the things. Ours have been a couch, a stage, an epic fort (add a huge lightweight blanket for added fort fun), a tumbling area, a restaurant, an obstacle course, an extra bed for young guests, a slide, and so much more!
If the Nugget is the most played with item in our house, magnetic tiles are for sure a close second. The great thing about many of these building materials is that you can continue to add on to them for so many birthdays and holidays for years to come. Even my second grader can still enjoy hours of fun with a bin full of tiles. We have two brands, and we’ve enjoyed both of them: the MAGNA-TILES were the first ones that we owned. The have tons of different sets to choose from, including animals, themed sets, and this really awesome new road set. The other brand, which I just discovered last year is Connetix, and while they’re a little pricier, they definitely have their place. The magnets are much stronger, making it easier to build taller creations. Lastly, I have not yet used them, but this super cool ball run from PicassoTiles just happens to be on the boys’ Christmas wishlist. The best part is that the brands are compatible with one another, so you don’t have to commit to just one!
My mom bought these castle blocks for Miles years ago, and they have proven over and over again to be a favorite. For the younger crowd (one to three), they’re great for stacking and working those gross motor skills, but as they grow, these blocks become so great for imaginative play. My kids like to mix all the building materials together, so often, they’ll build a village with a castle made of these and other buildings out of magnetic tiles or a train track around the castle, which brings me to my next gift…
Train tracks! These are another classic and for good reason. Miles got a set of wooden train tracks when he was two, and they’ve been in the toy rotation ever since. Though he’s starting to age out of them now, he’ll still sit down and play trains with his little brother from time to time. There are so many trains and components you can add on to these, and I’d say they make an awesome gift for ages one through five-ish. This basic Brio set is compatible with a ton of other accessories, including the Thomas trains and cool add-ons like this roundhouse.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t include the classic Lego on this list. If you have a toddler, the best place to start is with the Duplo blocks (and please do get the Duplo brand, as they are compatible with the standard smaller Legos once your kid gets past the choking hazard age). The Duplo, in particular, are great because not only can they build so many things with them, but they make a great bath toy, too! Around age four, we started incorporating the classic Legos, and Miles still loves getting Lego sets - in fact, he has this ski themed one on his list. They also make a great parent gift for the kids to pick out - Josh has gotten this Porsche from the boys and I’ve been gifted this succulent set - and it makes for a great family activity for us to assemble them together. If you’re just starting with either the traditional Lego or the Duplo, my go-to is the assorted block sets so that they can let their imaginations run wild.
We bought Miles his first set of Tegu blocks when we lived in Germany - this little set that was perfect for travel and makes a great stocking stuffer - and as with most of these items, we added to it over the years. These are wooden blocks with magnets in the end, so they are great for building structures like houses and towers. We also have this wheel set, and the boys have loved making their own Tegu cars. The Tegu blocks definitely feel like an heirloom toy that will last for many, many years, and they feel a bit safer for a young toddler than something like magnetic tiles, since the magnets are securely imbedded in the blocks and they are pretty much impossible to break. These are definitely a great introduction into building materials for your 1+ year old!
Plus Plus have been a more recent addition to our collection in the past couple of years, and the kids have loved them. The Plus Plus Big are great for younger kids, and there are endless possibilities for the things you can create. They also make a great bath toy! The original size Plus Plus kits come in tons of different themes, make excellent stocking stuffers for elementary age kids, and are great for restaurant entertainment on-the-go.
If you buy something through the links in this post, I may earn an affiliate commission, at no cost to you. I recommend only products I have used and enjoyed. Thanks for your support!
