LeapBuilders Elephant Adventures, RRP $34.95ea
Building blocks are to kids what Netflix is to adults, a fundamental source of stress-relieving, rewarding, engaging entertainment. My kids can play with blocks for hours, all three of them. The two eldest use them to create villages and constructions for their other toys while the littlest Hine enjoys pulling them apart and joining them together again.
LeapBuilders is a fantastic range from Leapfrog, incorporating three themed mix and match sets of blocks. From wild animals to a fix-it truck and an awesome house, each set features smart blocks taking the traditional block game way ahead of the curve. With a special feature built into each Leapbuilders play set, the smart blocks trigger sounds and learning phrases when inserted into the audio section.
Designed to teach children over 115 vocabulary words across the concepts of numbers, fruits, insects and colours, the Leap Builders range makes learning the most fun it has ever been. Targeted at kids aged 18 months and over, our Elephant Adventures play set is already evoking much enjoyment and development in the youngest Hine.
Guided by me or her older siblings, littlest Hine is hearing everyday words like banana, snail and pear in the context of the corresponding block and image. The light-up buttons on either side of the smart block function encourage kids to build and learn, counting to 10 when a number block is inserted, noting the colour of the chosen block and the name of the fruit or insect. Each block is double sided encouraging continuous learning and play.
Easy to construct for little hands and wonderfully bright and colourful, the LeapBuilders sets are comprised of movable blocks which add an extra element of fun and imagination to play. A handful of picture playing cards accompany the play set and in turn encourage children to deconstruct and rebuild the blocks into countless other manifestations of their choosing.
I love the interactive element of these blocks, taking a toybox classic and breathing new life into it. Leapfrog’s LeapBuilders play sets (starting at $24.99) are available at Big W, Target, good toy stores and online retailers.
For further information on LeapFrog and its products, visit www.leapfrog.com.au , or check out the LeapFrog news on FacebookLeapFrogAustralia and Instagram Leapfrogofficial.