Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks

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Anyone who knows our family knows that we thrive on hands-on learning in our house. I am a huge supporter of learning through play, and this review is perfect for our style of education. I know I review a lot of curricula, but when people ask me what to use specifically with their preschool and kindergarten-aged kids, I always tell them to let them play! The benefits of playing--especially during the younger years--are so vital. You know the old proverb about teaching a man to fish? That doesn't apply to only adults. Let kids learn by doing.  

Brain Blox is a family-owned company with that same belief. Their mission is to create products that encourage intentional and meaningful play as it nurtures brain development and confidence. I already explained about their Fun Family Chess, a new version that teaches the game with a gentle new approach but can also be used as a traditional set. Today, I'm talking about their Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks.

We first played with building planks like these at a science center years ago. My kids were quickly drawn to them as the planks appeal to their engineering minds. They spend time every day building something--anything--with Lego bricks and other building mediums. One thing that's different about these planks though is that there is no snapping of pieces together. Like blocks, these are used simply by stacking and are held in place by gravity and friction.

Another thing that's different about these planks is that the pieces are all the same shape ad size. Each building plank is approximately 4.75" x 1" x .25" solid New Zealand pine. They are precision-cut, chemical-free, and non-toxic, making them a perfect option for kids.  All of the edges on our planks are smooth with no worries of producing splinters. A red, canvas, drawstring backpack-style bag is included to store the pieces.

The building possibilities with these are endless! Truly, if you can think it, you can build it. I have been impressed with the creations my kids have made: pirate ship, table and chairs, army tank, houses, bridges, and countless towers of various designs, to name a few. Some of the builds were born out of their imaginations, but others were inspired by the Ideas Booklet that is included with the set. It features 15 building ideas by showing a pictures, how many planks are needed, and a tip or challenge for each one. No other instructions are given, requiring the user to depend on visual cues and thinking skills.

You can find many more suggestions in the free Idea Cards download. There are over 70 picture cards that cover 8 levels of difficulty starting with simple two-dimensional designs to complicated three-dimensional creations. Even my 4-year-old is doing well with the higher levels.

The company is currently creating free curriculum instructions that focus on reading, math, physics, and more that you can use intentionally in your lesson plans. The activities teach concepts such as the ability to perceive a 3D rendering from a 2D image, manipulation of spatial information, linear thinking, fine motor skills, and more. If you're just looking for a quick learning activity to sharpen thinking skills, there is a collection of brain puzzles using the planks that include the directions, hints, and the solution. These are one of my personal favorite aspects of the set. I love watching my kids use their brains to figure out the puzzles!  

If you're looking for even more ideas, Brain Blox has also put together a a World eBook filled with additional design ideas from walls and fences to planes, trains, and automobiles and many other things. There are also suggestions for creating characters on the planks and the collection of brain puzzles. They offer tons of options to ignite creativity and learning. 

To say that my kids (ages 13, 11, 9, 7, 4) like these is an understatement. As soon as one of them dumps the bag out on the floor, the others are right there grabbing planks to start building. We have the 200-piece set, but we've already been eyeing the larger one. After all, Christmas will be here soon, and adding more of these fun and versatile building planks would be a fantastic gift. My kids love to show off their creations and enjoy building when their friends come over. Their current obsession is using the planks for contraptions for a Rube Goldberg machine. We've been having so much fun applying engineering, problem-solving, critical thinking, and cause-and-effect skills.

The Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks are a fantastic resource for everyone! Whether you're looking for intentional play, specific learning, or just a relaxing activity, these building planks are perfect. They are well-made, versatile, and loved by all.

You can connect with Brain Blox on the following social media sites:

Facebook

Instagram

YouTube

Make sure to head over to the Schoolhouse Review Crew blog to see more amazing creations using Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks.

* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an

affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and
opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.

Fun Family Chess

*This post may contain affiliate links.

Today's review is a fun one! My oldest child has been playing chess since he was around 6-year-old. My dad is very skilled at the game and plays whenever he can. I have many memories growing up watching my dad and uncles focused on a match. I was pleased not only when my father started teaching my son, but even more so when my boy grasped the concepts quickly. He fell in love with the strategy and soon started playing with anyone who would agree to it.

Seven years have passed, and though he has helped his younger siblings learn the art of chess, none of them can match his skill. Every now and then he can convince one to play with him, but most of the time the others get discouraged because of their lack of expertise. They need something to level the playing field. That's why I knew that Fun Family Chess from Brain Blox would be the perfect tool to help them gain confidence in playing their big brother.

The chess set comes with all of the following:

• 15-inch wooden chess board
• 32 solid wood chess pieces
• 1 wooden chess cube
• 2 reference cards
• full-color instruction book

The chess board folds in half for easy storage and latches on the outside to keep it closed. The inside is lined with soft velvet and has enough space to hold all of the other materials. Since this set was specifically designed to teach kids how to play the game, the board has icons on the edges to show where each piece starts.

The chess pieces come in white and brown. The pieces are well-made, lightweight, and the perfect size for little hands. They each have a thin felt bottom to protect the board. Two velvet bags are included to hold and protect the pieces inside the board box. They are not the fanciest chess pieces I have ever seen--and they could be a bit heavier as they fall over easily--but they are nice, especially considering the price of the set.

Of course, you can use the set for traditional chess, but Fun Family Chess is a great way to teach kids (or anyone, really) how to play the game. Trying to remember how the pieces move and attempt strategy at the same time can be overwhelming. Not to mention, chess is a mind game that requires you to think ahead. The wooden cube eliminates all those issues for the new learner. The lightweight, nearly 1-inch cube has a symbol for each piece (other than the king) on a side with the sixth side showing a star. A player rolls the die and moves a matching piece on the board. If he cannot move that piece, he can roll again. The star means that the player can choose any piece to move. This is a gentle introduction to the game as it teaches the movements and basic concept but makes it fun. A person might be an amazing chess player, but if he doesn't roll what he needs, it won't matter. There is a little decision making involved, but for the most part, the game levels the playing field for all participants.

The heavy duty reference cards are colorful 8.5" x 5.75" cards on cardboard. Each card lists the rules of Fun Family Chess along with descriptions and visuals of each piece's movement. It's color-coded to match the colors of the wooden cube (though the colors are slightly off) to make it easy to find the coordinating movements. There is one card for each player. 

The full-color instruction book is just over 10 glossy pages. Along with many graphics and images, it contains information on setting up the game, how to play Fun Family Chess, an introduction to standard chess, and tips and strategies. It includes moves such as pawn promotion, en passant, and castling. Those are all things I learned from my son because my dad had taught him years ago, but otherwise I would have had no idea until now. This little booklet is filled with helpful information.

My kids were thrilled to receive their first wooden chess set! They love everything about it from the folding board to the variation of game-play to the bags for the pieces. My oldest (13 yr) hasn't been too interested in playing Fun Family Chess as he rather enjoys the strategy of the traditional game, but he has used the set to play multiple games against his siblings and friends.

The younger kids (11, 9, 7, 4 yr), however, have spent hours playing this new version--together and even by themselves! I have enjoyed watching them play and laugh. The littlest one is learning how each piece moves and loves playing with the others. It's pretty special not only to watch how patient they are with him, but also how quickly he's picking up the concepts because of this teaching method. I'm sure it won't be long until he's beating me at the game!

Brain Blox has done a fantastic job creating a way to teach little ones the basic concepts and giving them a love of the game. Fun Family Chess truly is "chess made fun for everyone."

Make sure to read our review of Brain Blox Wooden Building Planks! These simple planks are so much more than a toy. Engineering, critical thinking, problem-solving, and spatial awareness are just a few of the skills your kids will learn with these. They're a favorite in our home!

You can connect with Brain Blox on the following social media sites:m
Facebook
Instagram
YouTube

You can read more reviews of this chess set on the Homeschool Review Crew blog.


* Some of the links in the content above are affiliate links. If you click on a link and purchase an item, I may receive an
affiliate commission. Regardless, I recommend products or services that I have used personally and all the text and opinions are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 225.