Amazon Maximum Age: 6
Manufacturer Maximum Age: 6
Amazon Minimum Age: 36
Binding: Toy
Brand: Step2
EAN: 0733538769698
Feature: 64 easy-to-grasp shapes in 4 colors, plus a handy storage/transport bag
Label: Step2
Manufacturer: Step2
Manufacturer Minimum Age: 36
Model: 7696KR
Publisher: Step2
Release Date: 2006-09-12
Studio: Step2
MPN: 7696KR

• 64 easy-to-grasp shapes in 4 colors, plus a handy storage/transport bag
• Low-tack blocks stack at angles
• Quiet and soft, these blocks won't hurt your house or other children
• Blocks also float for water fun

Step2 Soft & Sturdy Deluxe Blocks

Wooden blocks are so last decade. Now you get can foam blocks that provide the same amount of fun and building without the noise and weight. These innovative blocks can even be stacked at angles due to their low-tack nature. Soft & Sturdy Deluxe Blocks even float so your little one can take them in the bath or pool. This set of 64 easy-to-grasp shapes in 4 colors comes with a convenient bag for storing and transporting.

Customer Rating:
Summary: Mixed feelings.
Comment: I have very mixed feelings about these blocks. Along with many other parents, I thought these would be a perfectly safe toy for my 2 year old to play with along-side her 4 year old brother. As it turns out, they are not firm enough to hold up to a still oral toddler. Our blocks, which have been used for just six months, are covered in tooth marks and have edges that are crumbling away. I definitely cannot fault Step2 for this, as they clearly advertise these blocks for 3 and up. However, I feel it's important to warn parents who view these as a safe alternative for their toddlers. I was one of those parents and now I only allow my toddler to play with these under my supervision. However, the average rating I'm giving the blocks has nothing to do with age appropriateness, as that is my fault and not Step2's. The rating is due to my comparison of foam blocks to wooden ones.

As far as play value, blocks are wonderful. Blocks are a classic toy and I thought these would be a perfect alternative for the same reasons a lot of other parents will--inexpensive, pain-free if used as weapons or when they tumble down, etc. I liked the concept of blocks so much that, after I became aware that these are not a good option for younger kids I actually went all out and purchased a large set of solid maple unit blocks for my third child's first birthday. He will also enjoy block play but can't use the Step2 blocks for the reasons stated above, even with my supervision because, as all parents know, everything is floor to mouth at that age and for quite some time to come. Obviously, the maple blocks were more expensive than the foam but not nearly so much as people might think. Do a search for wooden unit blocks on-line and you will find some solid maple blocks at reasonable prices. They will prove their value as time passes because they will never deterioriate and can be used for years and then passed down for generations.

When I received the maple blocks, I was stunned at how inspiring they were to my 2 and 4 year olds. They watched as I unpacked their younger brother's gift (I refer to it as his leverage for encouraging his older siblings to share--ha ha) and fussed and howled for HOURS when I had to put them away. They clearly preferred the plain wooden blocks to the colorful foam ones. I have to admit that I definitely did as well. As you hold just one you think, "Yep, it's a piece of wood." But then you see and hold all the different shapes and it's beautiful to think of all the creative opportunities in front of your kids. Their weight alone makes building and balancing more interesting. Also, they follow unit sizing, which encourages the development of math and science skills. Finally, the variety of shapes is greater, which makes it more interesting to build.

Foam or wood, I encourage a gift of blocks for young children--just not foam for children who still mouth objects or are teething. Do investigate the prices on wooden blocks. Though they are initially a larger investment, they will prove their value long after the foam ones are dry and dusty in the corner. As far as the fear of injury from wooden ones, I will just say that I have baskets of toys that could be improperly used as weapons if a child has a mind for that. I have a Fisher-Price corn popper that could tell a few tales of sibling rivalry. Ugh!

If money is a serious consideration, try the unit blocks made of rubberwood. Their weight is not quite the same, but better than foam. Melissa and Doug Standard Unit Blocks (60 - Piece)

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Customer Rating:
Summary: Kindergarteners love the blocks
Comment: I am using the blocks in a center for my kindergarten class and the students love them. They are useful in teaching the students to sort and identify shapes, as well as, the students favorite, building.

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