Kapla, Keva, Citiblocs: Review and Comparison

A Network of Roads

Lay blocks out in lines for toy cars or trains to more...1 point

Lay blocks out in lines for toy cars or trains to run on. Good for coordination and maybe even transportation safety.1 point

A Zoo

Place blocks on the floor to enclose an area for a more...0 points

Place blocks on the floor to enclose an area for animals to live in. Then put stuffed animals or animal figures in the zoo. To build on this idea, make separate areas for land animals and water animals. Or section off separate areas for predators and prey. Teaches biology.0 points

A Maze

Parent, teacher, or older sibling lays out blocks more...0 points

Parent, teacher, or older sibling lays out blocks in a maze. Toddler drives a toy car through the maze to the goal. Teaches spatial relations.0 points

Continue the Pattern

Lay out several blocks in an ABAB pattern (e.g. ve more...0 points

Lay out several blocks in an ABAB pattern (e.g. vertical, horizontal, vertical, horizontal) and see if your toddler can continue the pattern. Then make the pattern more challenging with AABB, or ABBABB. Teaches pattern recognition0 points

Copy a Shape in Different Sizes

Lay out blocks in the shape of a square or another more...0 points

Lay out blocks in the shape of a square or another shape. Ask your child to make one just like it,then to make one just like it but bigger or smaller. Helpful for spatial visualization and for teaching size and comparative/superlative vocabulary.0 points

Pick-Up Sticks

Dump the blocks in a big pile and take turns remov more...0 points

Dump the blocks in a big pile and take turns removing one block at a time without disturbing the others. Great for fine motor skills.0 points

Stack and Count

Stack blocks as high as you can before they fall. more...0 points

Stack blocks as high as you can before they fall. Remember to count each block you add. Helps children to count and, importantly, to count real things instead of just saying the numbers without understanding.0 points

Continue the Pattern

As above but in three dimensions.0 points

Measure Length or Height

Using blocks as a unit of measurement find out how more...0 points

Using blocks as a unit of measurement find out how tall or wide various objects are. Helps with counting, measuring, comparing.0 points

Build as High as . . .

Challenge your toddler to build a structure as hig more...0 points

Challenge your toddler to build a structure as high as his or her knee, waist, or even head. Do the same thing yourself. Discuss relative heights. "Your head is higher than my knee but lower than my waist." Good for visualizing heights concretely and using comparatives.0 points