Fun with Pattern Blocks

I had bought this pattern blocks set from Amazon for R Jr.'s Easter Basket this past Easter. He didn't really show a lot of interest for a couple of months, but has now really taken a liking to it. This is surely one of his favorite activities in the house that he can do independently.

Cons: The biggest problem with this set is that the pieces move a lot, so I have to keep putting them back in place before he gets frustrated. Also, while this set comes in a two compartment wooden box to store the pattern boards and pieces, it does not have a cover(just a plastic sheet) and the pieces could easily get lost. So, I have the pieces in a ziploc bag.

Pros: Like any Melissa and Doug toy, this is a very durable, sturdy set. The set also has a list of "extension activities" to put it to more creative use. There are 5 double-sided pattern boards (that is, two images per board), making it pretty compact. Each shape has a very distinguishable bright color, making it so attractive to the young ones.

Pattern blocks help kids:

• build visual- spatial skills
• increase pattern recognition
• practice shape recognition
• visualize how shapes work together to create new shapes
• master color recognition
• learn beginning math concepts
• practice creativity

(Pardon the picture quality above. We just happened to do this at night, and this is the best shot I could get.)

There are a lot of free printable pattern templates available online to keep it interesting and challenging for the little ones. I also print out the shapes using colored sheets and cut them out. I put some glue on the pattern outline so that he can just place the desired shapes on to the template. I have never asked R Jr. to do this, but he almost always tends to count the number of blocks each pattern requires, like 4 squares, 2 hexagons etc. Isn't that a nice way of learning to count too..

Here is a list of online resources:
Printable source 1 (also has a good collection of Christmas themed patterns.)
Printable source 2

Printable source 3

Note: The review of the product above is based on my personal experiences. I have not been contacted by the manufacturer or any retailer for this review.