Plastic Building Blocks For Toddlers: Building Foundations for Fun and Learning
Plastic building blocks are a timeless toy, offering endless hours of creative play for toddlers. These simple yet powerful tools help little ones develop crucial skills, from fine motor coordination to problem-solving and spatial awareness. Choosing the right set can make all the difference in sparking imagination.
Navigating the wide array of options available can feel overwhelming. This guide aims to simplify your search by presenting a curated list of the best plastic building blocks for toddlers. We’ve gathered a variety of choices, ensuring there’s something to suit every preference, budget, and developmental stage.
Whether you’re looking for large, easy-to-handle blocks, unique interlocking designs, or innovative magnetic sets, you’ll find top contenders here. Our selection focuses on quality, durability, and most importantly, fun. Let’s explore some fantastic options that will delight your little builder and support their growth.
Our Top Plastic Building Block Picks for Toddlers
1. Mega Bloks Big Building Bag
The Mega Bloks Big Building Bag is a true classic and a favorite among parents of young toddlers. These oversized plastic building blocks are perfect for tiny hands, making them easy to grasp, stack, and pull apart. They come in a sturdy, reusable storage bag, which is incredibly convenient.
This product is fantastic for introducing building concepts and developing early motor skills. Its vibrant colors capture attention and encourage imaginative play. It’s a budget-friendly option that delivers immense value and hours of creative enjoyment. The large size also minimizes choking hazards.
2. LEGO DUPLO Classic Brick Box
LEGO DUPLO is the gold standard for many families when it comes to plastic building blocks for toddlers. This classic brick box offers a fantastic assortment of colorful bricks in various shapes and sizes. It’s designed specifically for toddlers, with bricks twice the size of regular LEGOs.
These blocks are known for their exceptional quality and durability, ensuring they withstand vigorous play. The set often includes special pieces like figures or vehicle bases, expanding play possibilities. It’s a mid-range to premium choice that offers excellent compatibility with other DUPLO sets.
3. Strictly Briks Classic Big Briks Set
For those seeking a high-quality, compatible alternative to DUPLO, the Strictly Briks Classic Big Briks Set is an excellent option. These large plastic building blocks are designed to work seamlessly with other major brands, offering great versatility. They provide a sturdy and reliable building experience.
This set is perfect for expanding an existing collection or starting fresh with a good value pack. It encourages open-ended construction and creative thinking. You get a substantial number of bricks for a budget-friendly price, making it a smart purchase.
4. Learning Resources Jumbo Blocks
If you’re looking for truly substantial plastic building blocks, the Learning Resources Jumbo Blocks are a top choice. These oversized, lightweight blocks are designed for building large structures, both indoors and outdoors. They are durable and easy for toddlers to manipulate.
This product is ideal for promoting gross motor skills and cooperative play, as children can build impressive forts or towers together. The bright colors add to the appeal. They represent a mid-range investment for a unique and expansive building experience.
5. B. toys by Battat – Bristle Blocks
Bristle Blocks offer a wonderfully different tactile experience compared to traditional plastic building blocks. These soft, interlocking pieces have flexible bristles that connect at any angle, allowing for unique creations. They are easy for small hands to connect and disconnect.
This set is perfect for toddlers who enjoy sensory exploration and want to build in a less structured way. The unique texture and easy connectivity make them highly engaging. They are a mid-range product that fosters creativity and fine motor development.
6. Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Blocks
For an innovative twist on plastic building blocks, consider Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Blocks. These soft, lightweight foam blocks contain strong magnets, allowing them to connect and rotate 360 degrees. They are safe for even the youngest toddlers and float in water for bath time fun.
This product is awesome for introducing magnetic concepts and encouraging imaginative construction without frustration. The soft material ensures safety during play. It’s a mid-range option that offers unique play possibilities and easy cleanup.
7. PicassoTiles 60-Piece Set
PicassoTiles are a fantastic introduction to magnetic building for slightly older toddlers (around 2.5 years and up). These vibrant, translucent magnetic tiles allow children to build 2D and 3D structures. They encourage early STEM skills like geometry and engineering.
This set is perfect for fostering creativity and spatial reasoning in an engaging way. The strong magnets make construction stable, yet easy to reconfigure. It’s a mid-range to premium choice that provides a different dimension to building play.
8. Gili Jumbo Building Blocks
The Gili Jumbo Building Blocks offer another excellent value for large, chunky plastic building blocks. Similar to Mega Bloks, these are designed for easy gripping and stacking by toddlers. They come in bright, appealing colors and are made from durable plastic.
This product is great for everyday play and building large, impressive structures. It helps develop hand-eye coordination and imaginative storytelling. It’s a budget-friendly option that provides a generous quantity of blocks for expansive creative projects.
9. Skoolzy Jumbo Interlocking Building Blocks
Skoolzy Jumbo Interlocking Building Blocks provide a different kind of connection compared to traditional studded blocks. These pieces interlock securely, allowing for stable and complex structures. They are large and easy for little hands to manage.
This set is perfect for toddlers who enjoy building taller, more intricate designs that stay together. It promotes fine motor skills and problem-solving. It’s a mid-range product offering a unique building mechanism that can inspire new forms of creativity.
10. Kiddie Connect Interstar Blocks
Kiddie Connect Interstar Blocks feature a unique star-shaped design that allows them to connect in multiple directions. This encourages creative thinking and helps toddlers develop spatial awareness as they experiment with different configurations. The pieces are chunky and easy to handle.
This product is awesome for fostering innovative construction and exploring geometric shapes. It’s a great choice for encouraging independent play and fine motor skill development. These blocks are generally a mid-range price point, offering distinct building potential.
11. JOYIN Jumbo Building Blocks
The JOYIN Jumbo Building Blocks offer another fantastic, budget-conscious choice for large, classic plastic building blocks. These bricks are designed for easy stacking and unstacking by toddlers, promoting basic construction skills. They come in a variety of bright colors.
This set is great for starting a block collection or adding to an existing one without breaking the bank. It supports early learning through play, enhancing dexterity and creativity. It provides a solid foundation for imaginative building adventures.
12. COCONUT Large Building Blocks
COCONUT Large Building Blocks are designed with a soft, flexible plastic, making them safe and comfortable for toddlers. Their slightly pliable nature means they can withstand rougher play and are less likely to cause bumps or scrapes. They are also easy to connect.
This product is ideal for younger toddlers or those who tend to be a bit more boisterous with their toys. The soft material provides a different sensory experience. They are a mid-range option that prioritizes safety and durability in a unique way.
13. Playmags Magnetic Building Blocks
Playmags Magnetic Building Blocks are another excellent choice in the magnetic tile category, popular for their strong magnets and durable construction. These clear, colorful tiles allow children to build impressive structures that stand firmly. They often come with car bases or letter tiles.
This set is perfect for promoting STEM learning, imaginative play, and fine motor skills. The strong magnetic connection makes building frustration-free. It’s a premium option that offers extensive possibilities for creative and educational play.
14. Mideer Magnetic Tiles
Mideer Magnetic Tiles provide a high-quality alternative to other magnetic tile brands, often featuring unique shapes or more translucent colors. These plastic building blocks connect easily with strong magnets, allowing for stable and creative constructions. They are durable and engaging.
This product is great for fostering spatial reasoning, color recognition, and imaginative design. The variety in shapes encourages more complex building. It’s a mid-range to premium choice that offers robust construction and hours of educational fun.
15. Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks
For the youngest toddlers, Fisher-Price Baby’s First Blocks is a classic starter set. While primarily a shape sorter, the colorful, chunky blocks themselves are fantastic for stacking and simple building. They are perfectly sized for small hands and mouths.
This product is ideal for developing fine motor skills, shape recognition, and problem-solving. It serves a dual purpose as both a sorter and basic building blocks. It’s a budget-friendly option, perfect for babies just beginning their exploration of blocks.
16. Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Stacking Blocks
Melissa & Doug K’s Kids Stacking Blocks offer a soft and sensory-rich building experience. These fabric-covered foam blocks are lightweight and easy for even very young toddlers to grasp and stack. Each block often features different textures, pictures, or sounds.
This product is awesome for encouraging sensory development, early learning, and imaginative play in a safe way. The soft material makes them quiet and gentle. They are a mid-range option, perfect for babies and young toddlers exploring touch and sound.
17. Brain Flakes Interlocking Plastic Discs
Brain Flakes Interlocking Plastic Discs offer a unique and challenging building experience for slightly older toddlers (around 3 years old). These small, colorful discs interlock to create flexible, intricate structures. They promote fine motor skills and creativity.
This product is great for developing dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and abstract thinking. Children can build anything from animals to vehicles. It’s a budget-friendly to mid-range choice that provides a different kind of building challenge and encourages patience.
18. Constructive Playthings Giant Interlocking Blocks
The Constructive Playthings Giant Interlocking Blocks are designed for large-scale construction. These oversized, lightweight plastic building blocks are perfect for creating life-sized forts, houses, or tunnels. They are durable and easy for toddlers to connect.
This product is ideal for encouraging gross motor skills, cooperative play, and imaginative role-playing. Children can immerse themselves in their creations. It’s a premium investment, but the scale of play it enables is truly impressive and engaging for groups.
19. Crayola Jumbo Crayola Blocks
Crayola Jumbo Crayola Blocks bring the familiar brand colors to a building experience. These large, brightly colored plastic building blocks are easy for toddlers to handle and stack. They are designed for simple, frustration-free construction.
This product is great for encouraging color recognition and basic building skills. The classic Crayola aesthetic is appealing to many. It’s a budget-friendly option that offers straightforward fun and supports early creative development.
20. EverBrite Jumbo Interlocking Blocks
EverBrite Jumbo Interlocking Blocks provide another excellent option for large, sturdy plastic building blocks that connect securely. These blocks are designed for durability and ease of use, allowing toddlers to build tall structures with confidence.
This product is ideal for fostering spatial awareness and cooperative building. The secure interlocking mechanism ensures creations stay intact during play. It’s a mid-range choice that offers reliable performance and supports imaginative construction.
Final Words on Choosing Plastic Building Blocks For Toddlers
Selecting the right plastic building blocks for toddlers is an exciting step in nurturing their development and creativity. As you’ve seen, the market offers a fantastic range of options, each with its own unique appeal. From the classic, easy-to-handle designs to innovative magnetic and interlocking sets, there’s truly something for every little builder.
Remember to consider your toddler’s age, developmental stage, and personal interests. A younger child might benefit most from larger, simpler blocks like Mega Bloks or Fisher-Price’s first blocks, while older toddlers might enjoy the challenge of magnetic tiles or unique interlocking systems. The best plastic building blocks for toddlers are those that spark joy and encourage endless exploration.
You can’t go wrong with any of the products on this list, as each offers a quality building experience. Take a moment to think about what features matter most to you and your child. We encourage you to check current prices and availability on Amazon to find the perfect set that will inspire countless hours of imaginative play and learning.
About the Author
I dig until I hit truth, then I write about it. Diane here, covering whatever needs covering. Rock climbing clears my head; competitive Scrabble sharpens it. My engineering background means I actually read the studies I cite. British by birth, Canadian by choice.
