Puzzles & Building
Melissa & Doug Wooden Building Blocks - 100-Piece Set
100 solid wood blocks in 4 colors and 9 shapes. Stack, balance, and build towers and structures.
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This toy stars in:
How to Use This Toy for Talking
Let your child explore first — follow their lead. Watch what they look at, copy what they do, and add words to their ideas rather than directing the play. Then weave in the goals below for your child's level. A few minutes of shared, chatty play beats a long structured session every time.
Speech Goals by Level
Pick your child's level — not sure? Read the level guide. Each level shows goals for understanding (receptive language — what your child takes in) and using words (expressive language — what they say). Understanding usually comes first, so it's completely normal for the two to be at different levels. And every card has a step down and a step up — meet your child where they are on the day.
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Bronze · First Words
Understanding · receptive
- Follow 'Put one ON TOP!'
- Point to 'the big one'
Using words · expressive
- Say 'up!' as you stack
- Say 'uh oh!' when it falls
- Name colors
Key concepts
- Up/down
- On/off
- Big/little
- More
Finding it tricky? Drop all demands. Just play side by side and say the words for them — hearing words with zero pressure to speak is still powerful learning.
Too easy? If they copy words easily and use lots on their own, peek at Silver: take their word and add one of yours ('pop!' becomes 'big pop!').
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Silver · Phrases
Understanding · receptive
- Follow positional directions: 'Put the block NEXT TO the red one'
Using words · expressive
- 'Stack it up!'
- 'It fell down!'
- 'Build a tower!'
- 'One more!'
Language structures
- Verb + pronoun + adverb (stack it up)
- Positional phrases
Finding it tricky? Step back to the Bronze single words. Say their word, then add just ONE more ('ball' → 'big ball') — no need for them to repeat it.
Too easy? If two-word phrases are flowing, start modelling the Gold sentences during play and leave a pause — many children will surprise you.
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Gold · Sentences & Stories
Sentences to model · expressive
- 'Let's build a really tall tower with the blue blocks!'
- 'I think it's going to fall if we put one more on!'
Higher language
- Planning language: first, then, next
- Predicting outcomes
- Comparing: 'My tower is taller than yours!'
Finding it tricky? Shrink your sentences back to the Silver phrases and slow right down — long sentences are harder to process in the middle of exciting play.
Too easy? Move into storytelling: ask 'what happened?' after play, retell it together, or explore the final bands of the Talking Journey.
Julia's Parent Tip
Build alongside your child and describe your actions with rich positional words: 'on top,' 'next to,' 'underneath.' These spatial concepts are among the most important vocabulary for school readiness — and block play is one of the best ways to learn them.
Ready to turn this toy into talk time?
Grab it on Amazon, then come back to this page during play — the goals work best with the toy in hand.
