A few weeks ago Jakks Pacific sent me some of their blocks to review. My DS and a few friends ripped open the large box and of course proceeded to pull out the bubble wrap and spend 20 minutes smashing, stomping and popping the bubbles. Thanks, Jakks Pacific for the GWP (Gift With Purchase)...or in this case – Gift with Gift.
One of the two types of blocks they sent, Gorilla Blocks look a lot like giant Mega Blocks made of Expanded Poly Propylene – which looks a lot like styrofoam but is non-toxic and recyclable. The package of 24, we received package runs about $30.00 at retail. They fit easily together and make a good building tool but…you’d need a whole lot of them to really make something interesting.
On the other hand, they are made in the
These are great blocks for the 4-7 seven year old, though it doesn’t say that on the package. They are too large for infant and toddler hand. But, to beat a point to death….bigger kids need more blocks to build something interesting! 
The other product sent to us was the Knotwud product. This is a pretty cool product actually. The same size as small building blocks but made Ethylene Vinyl Acetate foam which is happily, non-toxic and free of phthalates and Bisphenol-A. Safe, non-toxic, and durable – whoo- hoo!
They also are easy on furniture and kids. I really liked these blocks since they are perfect for play on furniture and better than wooden blocks when children are in that “throwing everything” stage. Our test group of kids mixed them in with our wooden blocks of the same size and used them for furniture in the block castle they made.
These are, unfortunately, made in
While I’ll still buy natural wooden blocks, I will keep my Knotwud blocks too. And probably carry them with me for play when we visit homes of people without kids…and nice furniture.
Did you enjoy this post…or at least found it interesting? Visit me at The Not Quite Crunchy Parent for more posts on parenting in the middle. Or, better yet...
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