Educational Toys: XXL Foam Building Blocks for Children Ages 3 and Up and Their Development
Share
Educational toys are more than a way to keep children busy. They create an environment where children can follow their curiosity, build skills and have lots of fun along the way. This is exactly where XXL foam building blocks come in: big enough to build entire play worlds, light enough for small children's hands and soft enough that even wild romping stays safe.
Behind the blocks is RIWI buildit, a manufacturer that has specialised in oversized foam building blocks since 2017 and has already delighted over 85,000 children. The range extends from building block sets and storage solutions to modular furniture that can be used at home, in the group room or in the therapy room.
In this article you will learn what makes educational toys special, how they support children's development and what to look for when buying. We deliberately separate the needs of three target groups: parents at home, nurseries and kindergartens, and therapy and support centres.
What you can expect in this post
- A clear definition of educational toys
- The most important benefits for development and learning
- Recommendations for children ages 3 and up and safety notes
- Concrete play ideas and learning activities
- Selection criteria, safety and care
- Offers for nurseries and therapy centres
- An FAQ with buying advice
What are educational toys?
Educational toys are children's toys that specifically support development without pushing the fun into the background. They support motor, cognitive, language and social skills while the child simply plays.
At the core is learning through play. Children understand the world not through instructions but through trying things out, repeating and creating for themselves. Good learning toys provide the framework for this but leave enough room for imagination. Building and construction toys, for example, promote an understanding of three-dimensional shapes, while sensory play materials encourage creative design.
There are many kinds of toys that serve this purpose: stacking games and puzzles train patience and logical thinking, wooden toys stimulate the imagination without much distraction, board games promote rules and concentration, and dolls or cuddly toys support role play and empathy. Open-ended materials such as soft foam building blocks in the nursery and at home are especially rewarding, because they don't prescribe a finished picture but become whatever the child is imagining at that moment.
Benefits for development and learning
Educational toys support four areas at the same time: motor skills, thinking, social competence and a safe play environment.
Grasping, stacking, carrying and climbing train fine and gross motor skills, and motor skills toys improve coordination and balance along the way. Hand-eye coordination is trained too, for example when a child places objects precisely or fits them into one another. On a cognitive level, building trains logical thinking and spatial awareness, because children plan, try, fail and rebuild. This cycle is learning in its purest form.
A lot happens socially, too. Playing together promotes emotional intelligence, and through interaction children learn to agree things as a team. Role play expands vocabulary along the way. Add to that a practical advantage: high-quality toys tested for harmful substances are durable and stay interesting through several stages of development, instead of disappearing into the cupboard after a short time.
Educational toys for the first years of life
For the youngest, discovery through the senses comes first. In the first months of life it is all about grasping, touching, hearing and slowly realising that things still exist even when they briefly go out of sight. This object permanence is an important milestone.
For toys for the first years of life, the rule is: soft and large, with no hard edges and no swallowable small parts. The material should be tested for harmful substances and free of harmful chemicals such as phthalates, and any silicone used should be food grade. First forms of play with soft material are ideal, such as rattles and teethers for the sense of touch, simple musical instruments for sound and rhythm, and soft fabric cubes to handle, with which even the youngest get to know colours.
Large XXL foam building blocks are officially designed for children ages 3 and up. RIWI® building blocks are not suitable for children under 3 years.
Educational toys for children ages 3 and up
From around age three, the focus shifts from pure exploring to active creating. Children build, sort, invent stories and play roles. This is exactly where XXL building blocks play to their strengths.
At this age, it makes sense to build to a plan, where a tower or bridge follows an idea and trains spatial thinking, as well as stacking games and dexterity games that train patience and fine motor skills. In free play and role play, the blocks become houses, cars, castles or a toy shop, and children expand their language as they tell stories.
The great advantage of open-ended materials: there is no "wrong". A child can build a den today and an obstacle course tomorrow. These many play variations keep the activity exciting over a long time and offer new possibilities again and again.
Motor development and learning with XXL foam
Movement and learning are closely linked. When children use their bodies actively, they also consolidate cognitive skills. Large foam building blocks combine both in a natural way.
Gross motor skills develop through climbing, balancing and carrying. A large block is light enough for a child to haul through the room alone, and big enough that they use their whole body doing so. You will find practical exercises in our post on how children can build up their gross motor skills through targeted movement.
Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination are trained through precise stacking and alignment, because even a large tower needs precise movements. Smaller-scale playful exercises for fine motor skills help as a complement. Because soft building blocks engage movement, perception and planning at the same time, they are well suited to support within therapy and support plans.
Play ideas and learning activities
Good material thrives on good ideas. In free building, it is best to give the child an open task instead of a finished model. "Build something you can sit inside" trains spatial awareness, "Build a vehicle that can fly" stimulates creativity. A short time limit of around ten minutes helps some children stay focused on one idea.
Movement-based learning games combine activity with social learning. A small obstacle course for children can quickly be set up from large building blocks, with obstacles to climb over and tunnels to crawl through. Partner exercises in which two children carry a block together promote agreeing things as a team and social rules. Such small challenges are often the real learning moment.
Selection criteria when buying
When buying educational toys, age, material, safety and flexibility count.
| Criterion | What to look out for |
|---|---|
| Age-appropriate size and shape | Large, easy-to-grip objects, no swallowable small parts |
| Material density and stability | Firm enough for building, soft enough for safe romping |
| Certificates and testing | Test marks such as TÜV, materials tested for harmful substances |
| Modular assembly and disassembly | Can be combined, rebuilt and stored in a space-saving way |
Pay particular attention to the modular aspect. Toys that can be put together anew again and again grow with the child and offer new play possibilities for years.
Safety, materials and "Made in EU"
Safety is the most important criterion for educational toys. Toys must meet all applicable safety standards, be tested for harmful substances and free of harmful chemicals such as phthalates. Test marks provide guidance: the Oeko-Tex Standard 100 confirms that textiles have been tested for harmful substances, and TÜV certification stands for verified safety. The RIWI® XXL building blocks are tested for harmful substances according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 (No. 25.3.0293 INNOVATEXT) and tested by TÜV Austria (certificate ZSTS/APZE/1486). The foam of all RIWI® building blocks is CertiPUR-certified.
Manufacturing in the EU brings traceable production standards, short transport routes and better control over the materials. For public facilities, washable or particularly robust covers also make sense, such as velours for pleasant friction or PU leather for professional continuous use.
Cleaning, care and storage
Foam toys stay hygienic for a long time with the right care. Cleaning depends on the cover. Velours and PU leather covers can be wiped clean or, depending on the care instructions, washed, which is a big advantage in nurseries in particular. Use mild cleaning agents tested for harmful substances; for many surfaces, warm soapy water is enough. Regular, gentle cleaning is kinder to the material than rare, intensive scrubbing. Wooden toys, incidentally, are similarly easy to clean and are also very durable.
There are space-saving solutions for storage. A suitable bag holds several building blocks and makes transport easy. Particularly clever are covers in which the building blocks are stored and which can also be used as a play couch. That way the toys stay within reach instead of disappearing into the cellar.
Offers for nurseries and therapy centres
For kindergartens, nurseries and therapy centres, robust, durable and easy-to-clean products are decisive. Larger sets supply whole groups, so that several children ages 3 and up can build and romp at the same time. Modular play stools, beanbags and combinable elements make group rooms flexible and safe.
Anyone planning a room from scratch benefits from a well-thought-out concept. You will find practical tips on how to design a nursery in an educational and sensible way in our practical guide. In therapeutic work, the building blocks can be flexibly built into support plans, for example for psychomotor work, balance training or perception exercises.
FAQ: Frequently asked questions about educational toys
Which set suits which age?
To get started, a smaller set of 12 or 24 building blocks is often enough. For several children or use in groups, sets of 36 or 48 blocks make sense. Large foam building blocks are suitable for ages 3 and up.
What do good foam building blocks cost?
The XXL building block sets start at around €129.95 and are available in different sizes. Accessories such as storage bags start at about €49.95, and modular furniture costs more. That way the budget can be matched to your needs.
Are the building blocks safe and tested for harmful substances?
High-quality building blocks are tested for harmful substances. The RIWI® XXL building blocks are tested for harmful substances according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, tested by TÜV Austria and made in Europe. When buying, always look for the relevant test marks.
Is there a warranty or a returns option?
Many providers offer warranty and returns options. Check the specific terms of the shop in question before buying.
Conclusion
Educational toys have their effect where play and learning coincide. Large, soft foam building blocks promote gross and fine motor skills, stimulate imagination and creativity and strengthen social skills, indoors and out, at home and in the nursery. Anyone who opts for tested and modular materials is investing in an activity that carries through many stages of development.
The best way is to see for yourself in practice. Take a look at the XXL building block sets in the shop and find the set that suits your child, your group or your facility.
