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The waffle blocks are great to use at a hospital because they can easily be wiped down which helps prevent infections as numerous children can play with them in the playrooms. Children loved being creative and building fun structures and climb beneath them. -- Child Life Specialist, Oak Lawn, IL
Waffle blocks are large and can accommodate multiple children, fostering interaction and communication.
Waffle blocks are visually and tactically stimulating which can attract and hold children’s attention.
Waffle blocks offer open-ended play, which is a critical aspect of play.
Play with these blocks does not have a specific duration, enabling children to play at their own pace and as their attention spans permit.
The open-hole design of the blocks enables caregivers to unobtrusively supervise play.
The blocks are large, keeping both hands busy, lessening the opportunity for self-stimulatory behaviors.
Skills
Receptive and expressive language skills are practiced as children work together to build and play with the blocks.
The blocks can encourage the development of pretend play skills. This helps children think creatively and learn how to solve problems.
Parallel and cooperative play as well as social interaction can all be a part of play with these blocks.
Children can take turns adding blocks to one structure.
Play Ideas
Children can talk in the holes of the structure pretending it is a megaphone.
Build a drive-through window and engage in imaginative conversations such as placing food orders at a restaurant.
Build a goal out of the blocks and play a group game such as soccer, basketball or football to foster social skills, negotiation, turn taking and friendly competition.
Build a structure to use as a puppet theater and have the child put on a puppet show.
Talk about the colors of the toy, count how many steps the child took, and discuss the child’s accomplishments in specific detail.
Play peek-a-boo through the blocks.
Pretend play encourages language in children. Reinforce communication by talking about everything you and the child are doing.
Adaptation Ideas
Take several photographs of simple structures for children to use as a visual example to follow and build.
The blocks can be used to create a large, separate area that a child can go in to calm himself if he becomes overstimulated in his environment.
The lightweight pieces are easy for little hands to hold and pick up.
Waffle blocks are versatile and can be adjusted for the child’s physical and developmental needs.
The blocks have safe, rounded corners and no small parts that would pose a choking hazard
The open-hole design of the blocks enables caregivers to unobtrusively supervise play.
Skills
Motor planning skills are used to figure out how to hold and place each block and connect it to another block.
Gross motor skills are strengthened as children move their bodies to build structures.
Children shift weight from one side to the other as they move to build structures.
Balance is practiced as a child maneuvers around the play space they created.
The large size of the blocks encourages reaching and stretching of the arms and legs.
Play Ideas
Build a fence-like structure large enough for a child in a wheelchair to participate in the play.
Drape a sheet or blanket over the structure to make a tent. Follow the child’s lead and see how he plays in the tent and then join him.
Line the blocks up in a row and then count how many steps or jumps it takes to get to the end.
Play a target toss game by laying individual blocks in a row on the ground. Children can then use their own bean bags or stuffed animals to toss them onto each block. Use the blocks that have one large opening to help give children a target to aim for. This activity can be done by children who use wheelchairs as long as a caregiver or playmate can retrieve the bean bags for continued play.
Use the blocks to create a goal. Then, use your own ball to practice aiming and kicking the ball into the goal. This works on foot-eye coordination.
Adaptation Ideas
Make a wide play structure to allow a child who uses braces to walk through.
Sit or kneel on the floor and physically assist the child.
Waffle blocks offer open-ended play, which is a critical aspect of play.
Waffle blocks can be individualized to help foster each child’s cognitive functioning ability.
Play with these blocks does not have a specific duration, enabling children to play at their own pace and as their attention spans permit.
Waffle Blocks has no right or wrong way to play which can increase confidence and lessen frustration.
The open-hole design of the blocks enables caregivers to unobtrusively supervise play.
Skills
Waffle blocks help children develop color recognition and identification skills.
Counting and beginning math skills can be targeted as children build and count the number of prongs on each side of the blocks, the square openings, the number of blocks, etc.
Memory and recall skills are aided by the repetition of connecting the blocks together. Children must remember and recall what sides connect together to build a solid structure.
Children use problem solving skills as they connect the pieces.
Children can learn about similarities and differences by identifying the three types of blocks – solid, small square openings and one large opening.
Play Ideas
Children can sequence colors like red, blue, red, blue. This assists in the development of logic and prediction, pre-math skills.
Play peek-a-boo through the blocks.
Children can build large boxes with the Waffle Blocks and place their own objects in them.
Children can engage in social interaction while playing with others.
Use this play time to teach concepts such as in/out and under/over.
Create square blocks and then place them in a row. Have children take turns throwing a ball or stuffed animal into each square block.
Have the children sort and group all the colors. Then they can build structures using only one color for each structure.
Have children sort the blocks by type. There are three types of blocks: solid, small square openings and one large opening.
Adaptation Ideas
Take several photographs of simple structures for children to use as a visual example to follow and build.
The blocks can be used to create a large, separate area that a child can go in to calm himself if he becomes overstimulated in his environment.
