Edo Blocks: cardboard heaven!
I don’t know about your children but, when it comes to mine, there is no toy on this planet quite as much fun as a cardboard box. It doesn’t matter what we buy them, or how much money we spend, the cardboard box that it came in will hold their attention for far longer than the item inside. And for that reason, when we were introduced to Edo Blocks, I couldn’t understand why this product hadn’t been designed sooner!
Edo Blocks are, quite simply, giant cardboard building blocks and, together, the possibilities are endless! They can be coloured, sprayed, and used to create just about anything you can imagine. The idea behind them is to encourage your children to enter into a world that they have created using their favourite building blocks, be that a fort, a robot, a life size monster or a fairy den. From indoor to outdoor, big spaces to small, there are packs to suit every one and every budget, and one size fits all imaginations.
When our parcel arrived I was surprised by the size of the box which was far smaller than I had imagined. I had not realised just how cleverly flat packed the blocks would be, nor had I registered that I would have to build all fifty! The initial instructions sent me into a bit of a panic and I had to rope in Gaz for some help, but once we had mastered the first brick the others didn’t take half as long.
It definitely helped that it was a beautiful day so we were able to sit in the garden, enjoy the sunshine, and I actually found building them quite therapeutic. In hindsight I would have built the blocks before I told the children about them as for the length of time it took to build all fifty, they must have asked us if it was time to play with them yet at least a billion times!!
In the pack there was a mixture of two different sizes of blocks along with connectors to hold the bricks together. There was also a selection of stickers to decorate the blocks with and some pre cut out shapes for the children to colour in and use such as glasses, crowns, swords and moustaches!
The following day, when all of the bricks were finally made we let the children loose on them, and they were beyond excited! Although the website has it’s own section on ideas of things to build, the children much preferred to make their own models which was lovely to see, and proof how this product can really encourage a child’s creativity.
The blocks incorporate the Montessori method of self directed activity, hands-on learning and collaborative play, and it was great to watch the children solve problems and learn about spatial awareness.
I found it interesting to see the different ways in which the children played with the blocks with Harry at two, and Eva at five, using them very differently. Eva was very methodical in her building where as Harry was far more excited about bashing down towers!
I loved that although the blocks are made from recycled cardboard, they are very robust and even after Harrys less than gentle play, they remained completely intact.
The children loved that the blocks with stickers can be used together to create a number of figures, mixing alien antennae with a spotty bow tie to create their own cardboard box monsters!
I have promised the children that when the nice weather returns we can take the blocks out into the garden and do some painting on them. Eva is especially impatient to paint her monster pink!
It was lovely to see the three youngest children playing together and even better that, with fifty blocks, there was plenty to go around which meant that by some miracle, we has a whole afternoon without arguments!
My biggest concern when I saw these blocks was where would we store them when they are not in use, and yet so far that hasn’t been an issue this far. The children have played with them every single day since they arrived and so for now they are living in the conservatory where each day the children build something new and tell me that these really are their favourite toys ever!
Edo Blocks start at 35 euros and can be purchased from www.playedo.com. You may wonder whether they are worth the cost with being made out of cardboard, but if you think of these blocks as extra large Lego or Mega Bloks then they are in a similar price range, if not cheaper.
And, even better, they hurt far less when you step on them!!
These are brilliant, like giant Lego like you said! Love toys that really let children use their full imagination. The possibilities are endless with this kind of thing. Off to check out their website x
They are so much fun, the children have honestly had the best time playing with them! Thank you for your comment. xxx
The blocks look like that’d be a lot of fun, easy to move, and not very dangerous
Yes that’s the best part, there’s no injuries with cardboard! xx
These look fab! My girls would love them 🙂 #brilliantblogposts x
They are so much fun Kerry! The kids haven’t left them alone! xx
These look absolutely fantastic Laura – I’m so glad I read your post as these would be the perfect birthday present for my 8 year old and will provide entertainment for all 3 kids. And like you say, nothing is as much fun as a cardboard box! #stayclassymama
They are fab! The kids have built all sorts with them and they can’t wait until the weather picks up so we can go outside and paint them too! I’d never heard of them before but have recommended them to everyone! xx
Wow these look so much fun!!
They are so much fun! Thank you for your comment. xx
How much fun is this-amazing! x
My Dad came over the other day and had more fun playing with them than the kids! Haha! x
Much better for the environment than plastic toys too and you can recycle them once the children grow out of them, what a fun idea.
Stevie x
Yes, it’s a great idea and they are so lightweight too! xx
I have three grandsons, 3, 2 and 1 years old. They love a box. I am sure this would be an awesome toy for them! They love to build and destroy thingS
I’ve never met a child who doesn’t love a cardboard box! xx
Wow! These look fab! My kids love a cardboard box.
Haha mine too! It’s crazy just how much! xx
My children love cardboard boxes too, they would have so much fun playing with these. I don’t think I could sit and build 50 of the though xx
Haha after the first one I was thinking what the hell have I signed up for? But after I’d mastered it, it became a bit of a race against my husband to make them! xx
Great idea although I agree the unfolded one looks terrifying!
Haha I literally sat there thinking what the hell do I do with this! It turned out to be relatively simple when you know how! xx
This kind of reminds me of this show I used to watch on Disney channel as a kid called out of the box. Essentially their clubhouse was made of boxes but with imagination it was whatever they wanted. Never underestimate a kids power of imagination.
Oh that sounds like such a fab show! It’s great to watch the kids be so creative with these blocks!
Your right! Kids really love cardboard I have no idea why but these edo blocks look ideal and it is cool that it is all flatpacked too!
That’s great! They look like they are having so much fun. Fab that they can be personalised too.
They are such a fab idea! I wish I’d thought of it! xx
These blocks look like so much fun! And safe for children too. All the money we spend on toys and 90% of the time they prefer the box!
http://Www.chelsea-Elizabeth.co.uk
Hahah so true! xx
I think I’d be a bit intimidated to put these together, but they end up being a really cool final product. I love that it come with stickers to help kids create more. That little “person” your daughter made is adorable.
Thanks for sharing,
Lauren
They do look complicated but it’s great that they are so well made and sturdy. They can support the children’s weight which is great! xx
Love this idea – what a fabulous product. I know my daughter would love them!
They are fab! I love them too, hah! xx
This is such a great idea, like you said giant legos and maybe they can be painted too?, being made cardboard…
Yes you can paint them too! That will be so much fun! xx
That certainly looks like a lot of fun. I would be worried about storage too!!#stayclassymama
They all stack up into a relatively small pile, if you have a garage they would be fine in there! Unfortunately we converted ours!! xx
Whose fab idea were these, eh?! They look so good! Toby and Teddy would probably build them up just to knock them down but they look like such fun x
Yep, Harry has had a blast knocking them down! xx
These look fab – I’d be a bit worried with my two we’d just end up with a load of squashed boxes but I’m sure they’d love them when they’re a bit older.
Haha I thought the same but they can take the weight of the children, they are really strong! xx
How cool are these?! I hear you on boxes .. I never understood it .. but kids gravitate toward them! Well .. at our house kids and kitty cats too. I also really like that they’re flat packed for easy storage
Haha yep, our dog loved these too!! xx
Kids surely love these cardboard blocks. They’re so much fun to use!
And so lightweight too! xx
Looks like the kids would have hours of fun with these
And the grown ups! xx
This is brilliant! I can definitely see the fascination.
They’ve built some amazing things with them! xx
My kids would love playing with these cardboard boxes. Looks like fun.
They are so much fun, the children have loved them! xx
Seems like they had so much fun and I am sure my little boy would love it too! 🙂
They are so much fun! xx
These look genius! My two would love this, I suspect my husband would too! Perfect for playing in the garden on a summer’s day too x
Haha yes, they’re not just for children!! xx
Mine love Minecraft so these would go so well with them. They look like great fun!
Oh yes I never thought about that! xx
This is such a good idea! I wouldn’t be too keen on putting them together mind!
Haha yeah that part was a long task, but the sunshine helped! xx
They look like they’re having just the best time. I love all the eyes and faces on the blocks too! x
They are so much fun! I’ve been waiting for them to get bored of them but it’s not happened yet! xx
I love cardboard toys because kids can get a lot of fun out of them and they are eco friendly and recyclable. You have the patience of a saint building them all I think I would have got annoyed after-the first 10! As you say the blocks are a very creative toy for encouraging free play and the stickers are a fab idea for making aliens! Lovely post. Thank you for linking to #stayclassymama and we hope to see you next week honey xx