The types of building blocks

The first categorization of building blocks is in terms of the materials used in their manufacture. The mostly used material has to be plastic. Blocks that are made from such materials are very durable and safe to use. The durability is enhanced by the fact that the blocks will not break or tear when they fall or when stepped on. The safety of the blocks is considered especially when the blocks are meant to be used by small kids. This is because a kid will be tempted to bite or chew such blocks. However, kids are not able to bite off chunks from the blocks that are made of plastic.

Another commonly used material is wood. Most companies that manufacture the building blocks will cover the wooden material with some synthetic materials to ensure the durability of the blocks and their safety as well. The synthetic material prevents the wood from absorbing moisture which would lead to its rotting. In addition, the synthetic material makes the edges of the blocks smooth, hence making them safe for use.

It is also possible to classify the blocks in terms of the group of people that is supposed to use them. For example, there are the alphabetical blocks which are best suited for the preschool children because they motivate them to learn. Actually, children who play with such blocks usually have an easy time at school.  Some build blocks are quite big and are commonly referred to as the giant blocks. Such bocks are best suited for use by the bigger kids. The blocks may appear fragile but they are manufactured in a way that they can support a lot of weight. This is because they are mostly used for making tall structures like houses and forts. These blocks are advantageous because in most cases a kid will be in the company of his friends when using the building blocks. Therefore, these blocks will teach such kids to socialize and to express their ideas.

Some building blocks are made for adults to use as they pass time. For example, there is the cube that is usually made of many smaller cubes that can swivel. Each face of the small cube has a different color. The goal in the use of this block is to make the face of the big block have one color by rotating the smaller cubes appropriately. Getting this right might take days of trying and thinking.