Construction toys and STEM building sets that help children explore shape, space and problem solving. From toddler building blocks at 18 months to GeoStix® and My Gears® for older builders.
Construction toys: your questions answered
Our educational construction toys help children explore shape, space and problem solving as they build. Here is how to choose the right building set for your child's age and stage.
What age are construction toys suitable for?
From 18 months: Toddler Hollow Blocks, Interlocking Geo Shapes, the 3D Pentominoes Puzzle and The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Construction Cubes.
From 3: Math Cubes Set of 100, Junior GeoStix® and the Skeletal Starter Geo Set.
From 4: My Gears® Junior Set.
From 5: the 3D GeoStix® Construction Set and My Gears® Transport Starter Set.
What are the best early years construction toys for toddlers?
Toddler Hollow Blocks: 28 lightweight EPP blocks in 6 shapes, for indoors or out.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar™ My First Construction Cubes: enlarged 2.5cm cubes that little hands can grasp and stack.
Interlocking Geo Shapes: 80 pieces in 10 shapes with 12 activity cards.
Which linking cubes should I choose?
Math Cubes Set of 100: 2cm cubes with a shape on five sides, plus an activity guide.
Translucent Linking Cubes: see-through cubes in 10 colours, lovely on a light table.
Green-n-Learn® Linking Cubes: 100 cubes made from recycled plastic.
Linking Cubes Reflection Set: 100 cubes, a baseboard, an L frame and 2 mirrors for symmetry, from 4 years.
Linking Cubes 1000: 1,000 cubes for a whole class.
What are good building toys for 4 year olds?
The My Gears® Junior Set has 117 pieces and 13 models to build. Junior GeoStix® has 80 sticks in 8 colour-coded lengths, marked in cm, with 2 protractors that connect to the sticks to explore angles.
Do you have construction sets that move?
Yes. My Gears® sets use interlocking gears so models really turn. The My Gears® Transport Starter Set has 60 pieces in a mini jar with a carry handle, and the My Gears® Motorbike Set and My Gears® Bicycle Set include 1 printed model and 2 downloadable models.
Which building toys help with problem solving?
The 3D Stacking Puzzles (23 pieces and a baseboard, ages 3 to 99) and the 3D Pentominoes Puzzle (36 blocks and 12 activity cards) build spatial thinking. For groups, the Marble Run Builder Classroom Set (236 pieces and 4 marbles, ages 6 and up) lets children plan, test and rebuild runs, and works with 2cm linking cubes and My Gears® pieces.
Can construction toys help with letters?
Yes. The GeoStix® Letter Construction Set has 200 pieces, with straight sticks and curved arcs, so rounded letters like O and S are as easy to build as T and L.
What can older children build?
The 3D GeoStix® Construction Set (158 pieces, ages 5 and up) builds 3D shapes, and Busy Play® Skeletal (54 sticks, 16 balls and 15 activity cards, ages 5 and up) explores 2D and 3D structures.