Sunday 5 May 2013

Sorting Puzzle Box from Eichhorn


Still remember the sorting puzzle ball while we were still kids. And now, after we have grown up, we would like to buy this toy to our kids. 


Why choose sorting puzzle box?
Puzzle box requires matching, sorting and problem solving to complete a challenge or task. This is the game which has different shaped toys, to fit into different shaped holes. It comes as box, tube, and even ball, but the challenge remains the same - your child needs to work out which shape fits where. Posting boxes are great for babies because the pieces are easy to pick up and hold onto.

Eichhorn puzzle is packed in a thick cardboard box.


All puzzle pieces are covered with paper and stored into the puzzle box.


There are total 13 pieces of different shapes, colors and patterns printed on the sorting pieces. 


Talking about the color?
It is interesting that the sorting puzzles are not just painted with plain color. 

Talking about the shape?
The sorting puzzles are not only designed with basic shapes (such as round, rectangle or square), they are designed with other shapes as well (such as love or diamond).


The cubes are huge which won't cause choking. 
These cubes are not designed with rough and sharp edges.


The paint layer is think and fade out easily. You can notice from the toys below that the toys' color will fade out although the toys are new.



Talk about the puzzle box.
Out of six faces, four faces are designed with shape hole.
A. [LEFT]

B. [FRONT]

C. [RIGHT]

D. [TOP]

Top face piece is not fixed and can be opened easily.


Sorry for all bad comments below on the quality of the puzzle sorting box.

Please notice the crack on the wood surface from the photo below.


All wooden sorting pieces are not joint properly, as the picture below.


The edges are not rough enough, as the picture below.


The box is quite heavy for a toddler to carry around.

The hole has bigger space than the sorting piece, it eases toddler to fit the piece into.

But, toddler still need to find out the correct direction to fit the sorting puzzle into the hole.






When the box is fulled with the sorting pieces, toddlers cannot fit in any pieces anymore although by pushing the puzzle inside. Unless, toddlers are strong enough to carry and shake the box in order to fit the sorting piece into the puzzle box.

After playing, toddlers can keep the piece into the box. :-)

You can play the sorting pieces in this manner too. Still remember the building block that I mentioned in the previous blog.


Sunday 28 April 2013

Wooden Builder Set from Hape


This blog talks about Wooden Builder Set from Hape.


Certain benefits could be derived from this wooden builder set:


This building material develops skills with screws, bolts, and a different set of needs. Without knowing it, the children can learn some basic physics and engineering. This open-ended building lets kids learn by trial and error. 

Toys which have a battery and are complete allow no freedom of invention. We heard the story of the child putting the toy aside and playing with the toy because they can create their own world. Imagination is an important tool in learning to deal with life and within the confines of play, children can explore what they see around them, as well as what they can invent.

If you listen to and watch children, they will continually surprise you with their insights, sense of fair play and creativity. We are an inventive species and having toys which allow building anything from houses to complex machinery give free rein to the child's ability to invent. This would enhance your kid's language skills, for instance by talking about the end product.

When young children experience that feeling of being engrossed in an activity they enjoy they will return to that activity time and time again. Every time a young child spends any length of time sitting and playing quietly while also experiencing the sense of enjoyment and fun that can come from imagining and working and just playing with the pieces of the building set he learns. He can have fun by doing things other than running around and jumping and generally acting " crazy" (which is also something children need but which doesn't do much in terms of building some important skills). 

Every time the activity of building something holds a child's attention for a long time his brain is gaining experience being focused. When the developing brain of a child gains repeated experience at something, it is more likely to get better and better at doing the thing it is experiencing. The child who spends plenty of time at an activity that gives his brain experience at focusing, and gives the child experience with sitting quietly and entertaining himself, will benefit from this experience.

This Hape building sets are gender-neutral favorites and entertaining children for hours when they need to spend time indoors.


This toy is packed in a thick cardboard box.


Every time after playing the toys, kids can arrange the toy into the box.

This basic building set comes with 42 pieces.

The nuts and bolts are made by PV and others are made by wooden. 

These are the tools provided in this basic set - screwdriver and spanner.

You might curious how to make the pieces together.

(i) By hand

(ii) By screwdriver

(iii) By spanner

This blocks are designed with round-edge. It is safe for toddlers to play with.

The twist axis is well-designed in all wooden blocks.

The basic set comes with colorful and different length of screws and bolts

Besides that, it also comes with different shape and color of wooden blocks.

I would like to illustrate how to made simple construction sets.

(i) A Wheel Car
 

(ii) A Face Look 

This set includes a building guide to get your young started before their imaginations begins conjuring up blue prints of their own.

Sample of Complex Construction Sets:

This toy is suitable for kids ages 3 years and up.

There are two builder sets available in Hape:
i)  Basic Set

 ii) Master Set