Recently, several mums have requested for more reviews on toys with mileage, so I am planning to share on Vee’s toys. I believe a lot in free (unstructured) creative play, to let him develop his creative mind. Many times, the simplest toys allow the child to explore the most with his own initiative. Therefore, I hardly buy any electronic toys, which tend to limit the child’s creativity.
My sister gave Vee The Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics™ Baby’s First Blocks (approximate retail price: USD9.00) when he was about three months old. When he turned six months old and could sit up to play, I unwrapped the toy and introduced it to him.
Description
The cover to the bucket is easily opened and there are ten blocks of five shapes and colours. A handle is attached to the bucket.
How We Played With It
Most babies are unable to sort shapes easily until they grow into toddlers. (If you have a baby prodigy, do let me know!)
- I used the blocks to teach him colours and shapes, using the flash method (i.e. flash the block in front of him and say its colour and shape). Flashing holds his attention much better than talking slowly.
- I stacked the blocks to make little buildings. He loves to crawl to the buildings and knock them down. (Until now at 14 months, he cannot withstand seeing stacked blocks.) This helps him practice crawling at a fast pace.
- He holds two blocks and knocks them together. This is an important milestone to reach before babies learn to clap their hands.
- He loves taking off the yellow cover and pouring or taking the blocks out. Then he would put the blocks in and cover the bucket and keep repeating the process. This helps him strengthen his hand-eye coordination and finger-dexterity.
- The two red circular blocks are his favourites. Since they rolled about easily, he would chase them all over the floor and have a good dose of exercise.
- Since the lid does not stay on, another way to learn about shape-sorting to to place the lid on the floor and put the blocks through.
He used to put the pieces into his mouth and they can be washed clean very easily, to my relief. After 8 months of regular play, the toy is still as good as new and attracts his interest. Currently, he is learning to put the blocks through the holes and I hope he succeeds soon.
Update: Vee successfully sorted the shapes into the holes at 15 months old.
—
What we like about it:
- Simple toy with different ways to play with
- Washable and easily cleaned
- Basic colours that attract Vee’s attention
What could be improved:
- Some parents prefer a snap-tight lid (However, this would be less fun for a younger baby. I am fine with the toy as it is.)
—
Get Your Own
Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics™ Baby’s First Blocks is available in major departmental and baby stores.
You may also check the price at Amazon.com here: Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics Baby’s First Blocks
*: affiliate link to support the growth and maintenance of Mummy’s Reviews™
—
P.S. Read more toy reviews here.
I think this is a superb toy!
My son learn shapes and play this toy creatively!~
http://cre8tonebabe.blogspot.com/2008/08/creative-playing.html
http://cre8tonebabe.blogspot.com/2008/08/learning-while-playing.html
I think your son is superbly creative! I love the part about playing toys differently from what it is designed for. These simple toys really drive up the kids’ imagination. 🙂
I didn’t like the loose lid. I put the 3M velcro on 4 sides, i think. I bought this when he was like 7 or 8 months old i think. he could do the circular blocks 1st. Those are easiest. i think he could do the whole set by 11mths. I don’t bother to do what you did about flashing. I just talk to him, mentioning colours and shapes as we go along. Telling him that the triangle block should go into the triangle hole, for instance. He gets it.
Hi Sammi, wow… completing the set at 11 months is a wonderful achievement for your son! 🙂
If I need to get my boy’s attention during learning, everything must be done in fast forward mode. Haha…
Hi
May I know where can I buy this Fisher-Price Brilliant Basics™ Baby’s First Blocks in Malaysia?
Hi Jocelyn, I remember seeing it in Isetan (KL). Many places that carry Fisher-Price toys may sell it. 🙂
Yes, I found it at SS2 Babyland and have bought it for me 9 month old daughter. She loves it. Can’t imagine such a simple, inexpensive toy can occupy her for such long period of time.
Sometimes, she holds two item and bang them together to make a sound. I love watching her little antics with this toy.
Glad that she enjoys playing with it! Babies at this age are very adorable. 🙂
We had something similiar to this, also from Fisher-Price although its taller and has 4 shapes in 4 colors instead of the bucket you’re featuring. It’s a hand-me-down from my SIL and like what you mentioned, I stacked the blocks up, and Ben (14 mths old now) knocks them down. I’m still teaching him to put the blocks according to the shapes back into the container. If I took out the lid and told him to take out and put in, he understands my instructions perfectly and does it without any problem, but when I put back the lid in and told him to put in the blocks, he just goes on and took off the lid… bahhhh… anyway, cannot rush all this, they have to learn at their pace right?
And yeah, what’s with boys and red colored stuff? Ben loves red colored things! 😛
A relative told me that son liking red/pink is a sign that the next baby would be a girl. It happened to her though. Haha! 🙂
May I know where can i buy basic stack and roll cups in singapore?
Hi Siew Ling, I’ve seen them at Kiddy Palace. You may also try the toys section at Isetan and Robinsons.
Hi! My son is 4 months old already can take blocks from me and put them in the box! We love it and so does he. Great learning tool and great fun play too!
Wow, your baby’s fast! Have fun playing together. 🙂
Hi!
Loved your blog and all the reviews. I bought the fisher price blocks for my baby after reading this!
But my baby takes everything in his mouth and am wondering if it’s safe(BPA etc).
I couldn’t find it out on the cover or net. But am sure you would have checked it:-). Do share your thoughts on this.
Thanks!
Hi LA, Baby Jae puts everything into his mouth too. After reading up quite a bit, the “safe” materials are wood (with no or safe finishing such as edible oil), organic fabric, 100% natural rubber (beware of latex allergy in some babies), stainless steel and glass.
BPA tends to be a concern in CLEAR plastic cos that’s why it’s used. However, even if BPA is absent, there’re a range of other potentially toxic chemicals and phthalates that may be present in plastics. Many of these are not highly publicised yet. I’d assume that all plastic toys / teethers are not for mouthing, regardless of what the packaging says.
So if possible, try to avoid letting baby put any plastic and silicon into his mouth. That said, Jae mouths / sucks everything (including the floor, chair, etc) and we do have several plastic toys, so I can’t stop him every time. Just try to minimise it.
When baby is in mouthing stage, you may also look into wooden toys. Some common brands are Plan Toys, Melissa & Doug, ELC and HERO. Criteria I’d look into: reputable brand, suitable for young babies, big enough, no splinters, and safe dye. Downside is they’re usually more expensive than plastic toys.
Hope this helps!
🙂 your baby’s fast! Have fun playing together.