The blocks are spread out on the floor. “What should I build?” Perhaps you place two blocks side by side and lay a board across them. Your child moves one support, fetches another piece, and suddenly you have a beginning. These ideas are for moments like that. Where they lead is up to you and your child.
These Just Blocks ideas are for children aged 3 and over. Play on a clear area of floor and follow the instructions for your set. You can add vehicles and figures from toys you already own; here they are simply play props.
1. A bridge over the river
Lay a sheet of paper on the floor as a river. Put a support on each bank and find a flat piece that spans the gap. Can a small vehicle pass underneath? Does the bridge hold when it drives across? If it tips, try moving the supports closer together.
2. A path that suddenly turns
Place the pieces next to one another on the floor. Where does the path lead: to the kitchen door, the bookshelf or back to the start? Your child can add a junction and invent a story. There is no need to stack the pieces for this idea.
3. Two towers have visitors
You build one tower and your child builds another. Look at how different they turned out. Which has a wide base? Where might another piece fit? If you like, build a third tower and borrow an idea from each other. A figure can have an entrance at the bottom.
4. A house with a new entrance
Four corners are a start. The roof and door can come later. Tomorrow the same house might become a station. With Just Blocks BASIC, pieces rest freely on or beside one another. With Smart Lines, flat elements can slot into the milled grooves in the blocks. Our Just Blocks comparison guide helps you choose a building style.
5. A pattern to continue
Place a block and a flat piece on the floor, one after the other. Your child can carry on the pattern or make up a different one. Then it's your turn: can you work out what comes next? A small selection of pieces is enough.
When something falls over
Sometimes a fallen tower is funny; sometimes it's frustrating. You could offer to hold a piece or start again together. Or perhaps that's enough building for today. The pieces will still be there tomorrow.
Still choosing a set? Our Just Blocks comparison guide shows the differences between BASIC and Smart Lines and the number of pieces in each set.