One day I picked up a couple of random packs of 1/2 inch wooden cubes from Hobby Lobby for a few bucks each thinking we might craft with them, or paint them.
I never got a chance to do any of that.
These little cubes have turned out to be the best play item in our traveling toy box inventory!
We’ve found that the cubes don’t just add to play time, they’ve been very helpful in the development of fine motor skills and learning about math concepts of volume, cubic units and balance!
The kids have used the cubes to learn about balance in building….
We built some cubes of varying sizes…..
And they pointed out smallest to largest. When they built their own, they could see that they needed to “even out” their cubes the bigger they made them with more cubes.
They think they are playing but I won’t tell them that they are learning about volume and cubic units in the process….
But, of course- The cubes also make for excellent Monster Truck demolition material!
Some other ways my kids have found to use these cubes-
- When feeding her dolls, and lacking play food on our trip, she uses them as baby food- spooning the cubes up to her baby doll’s mouth.
- Our son uses them to transfer from dump truck to toy trailer to floor.
- They build and build and knock down.
- They use them to build pyramids with imaginary Pigs in them so that they can knock down the structure with their stuffed Angry Birds.
But, probably the funniest use of these cubes came one day when our kids took out their “learning chopsticks” (chopsticks that have special loops for kids’ fingers to make it easier to pick food up).
The kids transferred the cubes from bin to bin working on some pretty awesome fine motor skills!
After practicing with the cubes, the kids were ready to move on to bigger and better things….like COOKIES!
Who would have thought that a bunch of plain, tiny wooden cubes could bring so much fun and learning!
They have been a real help on this trip where space is limited.
WHAT SURPRISING ITEMS ARE IN YOUR “PLAY” INVENTORY THAT LEAD TO LEARNING?
This looks like so much fun. I have a great hankering to paint those suckers! But, of course, the kids know best what they’re for, don’t they. I saw those learning chopsticks at the store the other day and now I know they actually work, which is awesome! Do they really help with learning to use chopsticks?
Chrissy- I think they do work for the kids- They will probably use them for a year or two- but they always want to use my chopsticks when I eat and it’s messy! These are great!
Those are awesome! You guys have done so many great activities with them! Umm and I WANT those chopsticks!!!
Adrienne- Hmmm….what would you do with the chopsticks on a farm???? Lots of possiblities, I imagine! Super post on composting with wooden food!
If only tofu were as firm as wooden cubes! But cookies – what a fantastic food to practice with. I’ve been giving the boys slippery noodles and rice – what’s wrong with me?!
Nami- Can your kids use chopsticks yet? I think it is hard to teach them to use them right! They just end up stabbing things with them without the kiddie versions!
That is such a good idea! I love simple toys that can be purposed in so many different ways. Clearly, we need to get ourselves some learning chopsticks and blocks
Desi- They’d be great for your learning day care!
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This is fantastic! I love it when my son finds something simple to play with. The learning is an awesome bonus! I swear, one day.. my son was playing with a comb and one of my toe separaters. And when it was time to stop he didn’t want to! He could have played for hours. Lol. Anyways, enough of my rambling.. I want those cubes! And the chopsticks! Can you point me in the direction of finding both? I’ve pinned and shared, by the way
The best place to find the chopsticks is at Asian groceries and markets….the cubes are at Michaels, Hobby Lobbies and AC Moore stores!
Not one cube has gotten swallowed or shoved up a nostril? You really are the best mom ever.
nothing in the nostrils yet!!!!!! (pats herself on back while crossing fingers)