I have a 3 year old daughter who announced, a few months ago, that she'd like very much to be an engineer when she grows up.
These days, we spend a huge amount of time building, talking about supporting beams, types of roofs and connecting structures together. It's fabulous. Building is a great imagination-grower, teaches great motor skills, outside-the-box thinking, and is a wonderful family activity. More than anything, it's what my daughter loves most right now, and I'm so happy (and feel so lucky) to learn along with her.
(By the way, we found a great kids' book by Eve Bunting full of girls acting out all sorts of things they would like to be when they grow up - a wonderfully empowering read with some outside the box thinking.)
So blocks have become incredibly important. And earlier this year, I was lucky enough to win a giveaway over at one of my favorite blogs - Inhabitots. Included in the blocks gift pack was a set of 100 KEVA maple planks, crafted in the US.
They are deceptively simple. Each piece is identical - 1/4 inch thick, 3/4 inch wide and 4 1/2 inches long. You build by simply stacking the planks. No glue, no connectors. They are captivating. And make fabulously strong and intricate structures.
I probably would have never heard about them had I not been fortunate enough to win that giveaway, so I thought I'd give Keva planks a shout-out here (can I say that when I'm 33 :) ?) to spread info about their ingenuity.
Love to see girls building. I'm goling to check out that book and put it on my wish list.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite for children is Lego. When I ask my art and design students who of them have played with Lego as children, I can almost predict the answers. It's so good for them!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure wood blocks are equally good.
My daughter who's five, has told me that she wants to work in a hotel and change the beds when she grows up. -Well, hopefully that will change...