Mega Bloks 80-Piece Big Building Bag, Classic
We like
Large size blocks handy for the little toddlers
The blocks come in a storage bag
Superb quality
80 pieces is a great number for various and quite big structures
Good starter set that is compatible with other Mega Blok building sets
We don’t like
Some of the blocks do not connect firmly
How it works
Kids love building blocks and playing with blocks is an activity that offers independent play, hands-on play, exploring concepts and new ideas that spring from the creativity of every child, so this makes the building blocks, one desirable creative and educational tool that is both adored by kids and parents, as well. Even from the youngest age (12 months) to preschoolers and later older kids, building blocks are always on the list of favorites and not only they offer limitless imaginary play but it has been proven that building blocks indeed contribute to physical development of kids, language development, as well as cognitive and social development. Kids besides building structures that they recognize and remember from their surroundings or create in their imagination, can learn the colors, shapes, numbers, letters through play and more importantly this kind of play can enhance the social skill of sharing and working in a team in order to design a creation. Depending on the age group there are different kinds of building blocks and today we are reviewing a building blocks set that is specifically designed to be a starter set for the youngest builders starting age 1 to age 5. One of the most popular products among the building blocks sets for this particular age group is Mega Bloks Big Building Set, Classic set that consists of 80 pieces.
Toy description
This toy comes in a bag that contains 80 pieces of blocks for building. The bag is closed by a zip so you can easily put all the blocks in it and carry it wherever you like as well as use it as a storage bag when kids are not playing with the blocks any more. As a package it comes in two different colors: blue and pink and on the bag, there is a label that confirms that the bag is PVC- free and an eco-friendly bag. The blocks come in great size for the little hands to hold and play with them and all of them are in bright different colors and in different shapes. The blocks are lightweight and made of high-quality plastic and kids can easily stack them together. The dominant colors of the blocks are green, blue, red, yellow, orange and light blue. This product packed in a bag comes in 12x6x14 inches dimensions and its total weight is around 1 pound. The number of pieces (80) is just quite enough for kids to build large structures, animals, vehicles and whatever they can think of.
Who is the product for?
The manufacturer recommends this toy for kids from 12 months up to 5 years. The name of the product also tells the target group – First builders, which means that it is intended to be a starter set for building for the youngest ones. However, lots of customers say that usually kids from 1 -2 years are keener on throwing around the blocks, putting them in the bag and emptying it again, rather than sitting and building. Toddlers from the age of 2 start playing with the blocks and can spend longer time in individual play building different structures. It is a great gender-neutral toy and because of its durability and longevity in play it can be a toy that is passed to other siblings or family relatives. It would be a great toy for kids who love building and are ideal gift for development of kids’ imagination.
Play
Kids love to play with blocks because they can build many different structures, castles, their loved animals and many more other things. As there is no limit to the imagination there is no limit to the things that can be built with the blocks. This set consists of 80 pieces and the number of blocks is sufficient for building different creations. It would have been nice if the pack contained more instructions of different structures that can be built with the blocks. Customers report that kids love playing with the blocks on daily basis but unfortunately some of the blocks seem not to fit very well and cannot be connected firmly. However, the set is great for play especially for toddlers because the blocks are open-ended which means that kids can create whatever it comes to their mind which is much better compared to the sets that are intended for construction of specific structures and objects. In addition the blocks because of the size are easy to collect and especially toddlers like putting them in the bag and emptying the same bag over and over again.
Motor skills
These blocks for building are just the right size when it comes to assembling and disassembling and are easy to grasp and hold for the little hands of the toddlers. By building and stacking, kids work on the developing of the hand-eye coordination and by grasping they also strengthen the motor skills on the hands. Toddlers usually love stacking high towers and making the towers fall down. This is a great exercise for enhancing fine motor skills and learning the cause-effect relationship. The 80 pieces of building blocks offer endless opportunities for building and creating various themes and structures and by this kids develop their muscle control and of course the process of creative thinking because they are trying to build some basic structures with the blocks by stacking and combining them. Overall we can conclude that building blocks can be really helpful for physical development as well as for gross and fine motor skills development of the younger kids and indeed for enhancement of creative and imaginary skills.
Social interaction
Although this product is recommended for kids from 1 to 5 years as mentioned in this review it is a toy that is playable by older kids too and it is a great toy for establishing a bond between the parents and the kids. As a toy it actually welcomes other kids to join the game and the “process of building” and it encourages sharing. This kind of play motivates kids to cooperate with other kids or their siblings and through play with this simple toy they learn the skills of social interaction. The building of different structures also engages kids into active and interactive play. Kids can spend hours of quality time together with parents building with the blocks and talking about many different things so for example this set can be used to teach and learn the colors. The building of the blocks enhances kids' creativity, develops logical skills, and stimulates imagination.
Quality
The blocks are made of high-quality plastic that at the same time is sturdy but lightweight too. The customers that use this product confirm that the product is consistent in terms of quality. The plastic is durable and even when kids throw the blocks they are not easily damaged and are hard to be broken and as customers claim can endure the “abuse” of the toddler. The paint of the blocks also does not peel and it is durable. The colors are bright and appealing for the kids so kids actually want to play and build with the blocks. The bag that comes with this toy and holds the pieces for building is also good quality and kids can easily open and close it with the help of the zipper. The complaints regarding the quality of the blocks are so few in number and that is why cannot be taken as serious claims that represent the majority.
Safety
The toy is created with toddlers in mind which means safety requirements must be met. Mega Bloks designed this set for building for the youngest kids and that is why the blocks come in a size that is handy for the kids to grasp, hold and stack but they are too big to represent a choking hazard for the 1-2 year old kids. Although it is clear that the storage bag is designed to be eco-friendly and it is made of PVC free material the company does not state clearly whether the blocks are PVC or BPA free and many users are confused regarding this information. However, what one cannot doubt is that the product meets the criteria for safety standards and non-toxic products. The toy is made in Canada. The blocks do not have sharp edges and in this context do not impose danger for the kids but as many users certify that the youngest kids often throw the blocks around, it is advisable and recommendable to supervise the play when 1-2 year olds are concerned.
Care and maintenance
Since the building blocks are made of plastic it is not recommendable to put them in a dishwasher or sanitizer because higher temperature can damage the plastic. In order to keep the blocks in good condition especially because it often happens that toddlers put the blocks in their mouths, you can clean them just with a damp cloth or even wash the blocks in lukewarm water and mild soap if they are really dirty. The quality plastic blocks are super easy to be cleaned and maintained and their maintenance is not time consuming. Some customers complaint on the quality of the bag and that later it cannot be used for storing but considering the quality of the blocks this is manageable since blocks can be easily stored in any kind of container or toy box. Kids can be involved in the process of tidying up and assist with the storage of the blocks.
Overall value
This product can be found on Amazon for a reasonable price considering the number of building blocks that are in the storage bag that is portable and great for putting the blocks away until the next time kids would want to play with this toy. The price tag is just right taking into account the benefits of playing with blocks and the quality of the product. This is a durable product that can offer hours of play for more than one child and considering the recommended age it is a product that is used for a longer period of time. For this price you get 80 pieces that can be used to create animals, planes and other vehicles, structures and besides being great for a starter set it is also great because it can be used later with other sets as it is compatible with the other Mega Blok building blocks and sets.
Bottom line
If your child is a fan of building and enjoys working with his/her hands we are sure he/she will love this toy -building set. It would be an ideal gift for toddlers and kids from 12 months because this is intended to be a starter set, for the little hands who are just starting to play with blocks so you can introduce it to them by showing the process of stacking one block over another. In addition the set offers superb quality of the 80 pieces of blocks for building that are stored in a reusable bag that can be easily opened and closed by kids. The bag is with good quality and it is easily portable so you can take the bag with you on trips or to grandma’s house for the weekend. The size of the blocks is also great and they are manufactured with toddlers in mind. The only complaint by customers is that sometimes some of the blocks do not have a good connection and they fall apart easily from the structure. However, majority of the users certify the good quality and that these blocks are really durable. For kids older than 2 to 5 years old this set is great because it is completely compatible with the other sets that are manufactured by Mega Blok. This building set can be purchased for an affordable price at Amazon and other distributors.
