Jingle Blocks, Jingle Blocks

I love these little blocks. Really, I love almost any kind of block. Blocks in general are sturdy, reasonably inexpensive, and awesome for open-ended play. Even though these blocks unfortunately fail the sturdy test, they have a special appeal for some of my kiddos. See, these blocks make NOISE. Even better, they make a non-irritating noise. Each block has a small bell inside, so when you shake them, bang them together, or knock over a stack of them, they jingle. The bell makes them a great toy for kids with vision impairments, or kids who love other types of rattles. Besides that, the blocks can be made in a variety of sizes- I have some really small ones for my kiddos with little hands. These are easy enough to make that I don't think I even need to post detailed instructions. You use plastic canvas, cut out 6 pieces of the same size, then sew the sides together using a big tapestry needle and yarn. Oh and as you're sewing the sides up, don't forget to put the bell in! I use a variety of bells so that the blocks don't all make exactly the same sound. Because the bells are small and can be a choking hazard, be sure and throw away or repair any blocks that get cracked since you don't want the bells to fall out and be swallowed.