Play ideas

12 first builds to try with big blocks

Not sure what to build? These simple ideas work with any First Builders set and grow with your child.

For the youngest builders

1. The tallest tower: stack until it falls, then cheer. 2. Colour stripes: a red tower, a blue tower, a yellow tower. 3. Fill the bag: drop every block back in, one by one. 4. The wall: blocks side by side, then knock it down with a toy car.

When towers get steady

5. A bridge: two towers and a long block on top. 6. Stairs: one block, then two, then three, counting each step. 7. A garage for a vehicle: three walls and a roof. 8. A road: a long line of blocks for cars to drive along.

For preschool builders

9. A house for a toy: walls, a door gap and a roof. 10. Copy me: you build three blocks, your child copies them. 11. Pattern trains: red, blue, red, blue on a learning train. 12. Remix a 3-in-1: build the picture model, then swap one part for something new.

Keep it light

There is no wrong way to build. Follow your child's lead, name the colours and count the blocks out loud, and let them knock things over: it is all part of learning how things balance. Our note on learning with blocks explains what is going on behind the play.