“Unit blocks, the wooden building blocks that one can spot in the corner of most early childhood classrooms, were invented by Caroline Pratt in 1913,” Lange tells us.

If Toy Story‘s Woody could warn all the plastic toys and apps currently on the market, he’d probably say: “Ollies Blocks are here. This is the perfect time to panic!” Ollies Blocks, currently being ...

Her unit blocks are bigger than Fröbel's but small and lightweight enough to allow for either individual or collaborative building. The basic unit is 5½ by 2¾ by 1⅜ inches (140 by 70 by 35mm).

A guide to open-ended building toys from a veteran of physical and digital toy development, and including Keva planks, Clixo Rainbow Pack, National Geographic marble run, and MathLink Cubes.

Resolved: That blocks are the best toys ever. Every year around holiday time, lists of gift possibilities for children pop up here and there. Recently Barnes & Noble published its Best Toys of the ...