Construction materials stimulate and support a wide range of play experiences and generate learning across the whole curriculum. Not only does handling large and small apparatus enhance dexterity and gross motor skills; it also helps children learn about size and dimension, balance, weight and length. Working on a structure co-operatively helps foster social skills, and using construction materials alongside small-world play is great for children's imaginations.
TALKING TUBS, CONSTRUCTION
MINDSTRETCHERS
Age: 4+
PRICE: £50
CONTACT: 01764 664409, www.mindstretchers.co.uk
Contains ten A5 photographs of buildings and houses, 22 objects that link to the theme of construction and questions to investigate.
Tested by Barton Primary and Nursery School, Torquay
'This is a great resource, especially for a project on houses and homes. It enables children to have first-hand evidence and tangible knowledge of the materials, tools and resources that are used in building. The children found the artefacts adorable. They ranged from the materials used to build a house, such as thatch and miniature air-block bricks, to hinges, screws and bolts. There were also miniature tools, such as hammers and wrenches in a little toolbox. Visualising the equipment and physically being able to touch it helped enormously in the acquisition of language. We looked at the items in the box and discussed them one by one.
'The small retractable metal tape measure captured their imaginations the most. They thought it could be a torch, a measure or a lighter. The fact that there were four kinds of measures was very interesting for them. Some of the tools were tiny and could easily be put into a child's mouth, but the children loved the cuteness of them and they looked after them really well. The box contained a lot of information and equipment and I think it's good value for money.'
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3D MAGNETIC BLOCKS
NEXUS
AGE: 3+
Price £59 for a 20-piece set; £199 for a 80-piece set
Contact: www.nexus-euro.co.uk, 0800 137245
This set contains red and blue 3D triangles and cubes, some of which have wheels attached. The red blocks attract to the blue blocks, and vice versa. Each block measures 5cm3. Supplied in a Gratnel tray with lid.
Tested by Castle Montessori Nursery, Berkhampsted, Herts
'The children really enjoyed this product. They quickly realised that the blocks with the same colours did not attract each other as easily as the different colours, which gave an opportunity to introduce words such as attract, repel and pole.
'The size of the blocks is excellent for the children's hands, and they are light enough to handle. I would consider buying the set but would like the option to purchase the triangles and squares separately, too. The latter are more versatile and the children were able to make different structures with them. The large cubes with the wheels attached were more restricting because the children only tended to make trucks, buses or cars. I think it is good value for money.'
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GIANT HOLLOW BLOCKS
ALPHABET EDUCATION
Age: 3+
Price: £495
Contact: 01132 704483, www.alphabeteducation.co.uk
A 26-piece set of giant hollow blocks, made from sustainable rubber wood. Light enough for children to move and create their own structures and mathematically modular.
Tested by Blyth Valley Children's Centre, Northumberland
'These blocks are well-made and have a lovely smooth finish with rounded edges. They are tactile, durable and hard wearing. The children found many different uses for them. They constructed a low-level stage, made ramps and bridges for their vehicles to travel along, built a balance-beam effect to walk along and used them to house a variety of small-world animals. They also created simple structures, building towers and then knocking them down again.
'The blocks are suitable for both indoor and outdoor play. Some of the blocks are quite heavy, so we established some ground rules with the children before they started. We would definitely consider buying them.'
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CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING BOX
MINDSTRETCHERS
Age: 4+
Price: £18
Contact: 01764 664409, www.mindstretchers.co.uk
Contains sturdy wooden reels, building sticks with cleverly designed grooves cut into the edges, dolly pegs, doll pins and stands, jumbo sticks and an interesting assortment of bamboo sticks.
Tested by Alderman Leach Primary School, Darlington
'We placed the opened box on a table covered with blue paper and no other resources. We left a camera nearby so that they could take photographs of their explorations.
'The children began to riffle through the box, enjoying the textures and shapes of the items. Thomas was interested in making letters and he created a "T" with sticks; Indiana used the bamboo canes as binoculars; Luke picked up the matchsticks and carried handfuls of them into the outdoor area to make a campfire; and Lottie built a tower with the reels and took a photograph from above and said they looked like "flowers".
'The products certainly motivated and inspired the group and it wasn't long before they were searching out additional resources to enable them to design, build and create constructions and models they could take home. I would definitely use the same sorts of materials within the setting, as they inspired a lot of interest, creativity and language. However, as a perishable resource, they would be much too expensive for us to purchase.'
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ROPE RUNNER
MINDSTRETCHERS
Age: 4+
Price: £15
Contact: 01764 664409, www.mindstretchers.co.uk
A pulley system that allows children to create multiple systems with a series of ropes (bucket not included).
Tested by Bewbush Children's Centre, West Sussex
'We set up a building site in the garden and the children used this piece of equipment to transport bricks to one another to build a wall. We used it as a small-group activity with children aged four and above.
'We used buckets and household containers on the pulley system, but we found that the string supplied wasn't strong enough, so we had to replace it with some rope. Our children enjoyed this experience, but we found it took us a little while to work out how to use it and set up our construction area to get the best out of this piece of equipment. That said, it works well. It's good value for money and it's great for co-operation skills, as the children had to talk about what they wanted.'
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MARVELLOUS MIRROR BLOCKS
TTS EDUCATION
Age: 3+
Price: £59.95
Contact: www.tts-group.co.uk
A set of 25 3D wooden blocks with acrylic mirror sides, contained in a wooden tray. Size of cuboids 4.8 x 4.8 x 9.6cm; cylinders 4.8 x 9.6cm.
Tested by Frederick Bird Primary School, Coventry
'This has been a fantastic resource to trial. We set it up alongside other small-world resources such as minibeasts, small people and other construction materials. Children began to explore the mirrors on the blocks, looking at two blocks adjacent to each other and making comments such as, "If you put these together they are four mirrors!", while looking at the reflections bouncing off each other.
'They then began to build wonderful mosques, towers, fairy houses and castles with the blocks. We have also been learning about 3D shapes and this has been an exciting resource for finding cylinders, cubes and cuboids. The blocks have no corners or sharp edges and are great for early years settings.
'I have no concerns about this product. I think it's good value for money. However, because many children have enjoyed this resource, 25 blocks is not many to share, so as a large school I would be looking to invest in some more sets.'
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All prices exclusive of VAT and post/packaging
BEST BUY
For Ann Ross, childminder, Dartford, Kent ...
'In the garden we have log stepping stones from Homebase, which cost £3.93 each, and are about the size of a large dinner plate. Children love moving them around the garden - they are not too heavy - and they enjoy putting things on top of them like cars. They pile them up to build towers and they use off-cuts of bamboo sticks to hold the logs up and place bark underneath to create homes for small-world play toys.'
