community playthings: unit blocks

Mar 10

Posted by: Scott in: blog, caleb isaiah, clever toys, cute things kids say, family, just another day in paradise, parenting, ramblings

I emailed Community Playthings a few weeks ago to inquire about shipping time. On their website, they ask that you allow three weeks for shipping. It may likely be less if you are placing a small order like me, but if you were outfitting an entire daycare, you certainly can’t complain. Three weeks shipping for things that will probably last thirty plus years. When I called to place my order for Caleb’s blocks last week, the woman I spoke with even remembered my email! It added a personal touch to “just another order” for me. They came via UPS today. All 92lbs. of them. I felt so bad, the poor guy carried both boxes to the door at the same time! (By the way, shipping is included in the prices) Scott wants us to wait until his birthday, the nerve! I aching to open the boxes! I mean really, I’m not wrapping up these enormous 92lb boxes, so what does it matter! He’s three, he’ll never know the difference! Right?! But that didn’t stop me! I took them out to play inspect the shipment after I got Caleb down for a nap. These blocks are precision cut within 1/1000th of an inch! All the corners are rounded, they are hea-VY. If your toddler builds a structure and whizzes past it at the speed of light, chances are it isn’t going to come tumbling down in the breeze. Even on our low pile carpet, they were pretty stable. This is my demonstration (via my cell phone camera, remember, low expectations) of why they are called unit blocks. I’ve tried to explain to Scott, but without being able to visualize, it can be confusing. A unit block (3rd row from the bottom) is 1 3/8″ by 2 3/4″ by 5 1/2″. The length is exactly twice the width which is exactly twice the thickness.

From bottom to top, left to right: 1 quadruple unit, 2 double units, 4 unit blocks, 1 half unit, 2 unit block small triangle, 2 unit block ramps with a regular unit on top, 2 unit block triangles, 2 unit blocks, 2 large elliptical curves (notice that when put together, the arch is 3 units wide?) And this is just the top layer of the box, it didn’t want to get too confused trying to put everything back.

I can’t wait to play! Caleb got up from his nap and examined the boxes, now taped with blue painter’s tape. He said, “Can we open dem?”

“Not right now,” I replied.

*ten minutes later* “Can we open dem nooow?”

This gives you the gist of how the rest of my afternoon will likely go.

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