Dinosaurs will always hold a special place in the minds of children and adults, do we ever grow out of admiring these magnificent giants that ruled the earth? With this in mind, we have created the latest addition to our wide range of educational toys- our new tickit Wooden Dinosaur Blocks. These have been designed by Commotion to bring the prehistoric world back to life through the power of play.
Our passion has always been to create products that inspire the imagination and promote learning through play, which is why we developed these highly detailed, tactile and sturdy wooden blocks - so that they can captivate and ignite the imagination, promote problem solving and fine motor skills, foster cognitive and language development and much more.
These dual-sided blocks are more than just toys – they're tools for introducing children to the wonders of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). They are sturdy and robust, lending themselves perfectly to stacking games meaning children naturally explore scientific concepts such as balance, stability, and anatomy. Start topic discussions by asking questions such as – does the dinosaur’s long tail balance out their long neck? Is it better to place the longer dinosaurs at the bottom? How do the pterodactyl’s wings help them sit at the top of the stack?
They offer the opportunity to discuss topics such as palaeontology, evolution, and the natural world, sparking curiosity and laying the foundation for future STEM learning and inspiring interest. They have the dinosaur's features on one side with their skeleton on the reverse and an information booklet comes included to expand interest and knowledge further. The booklet comes in 8 languages and gives details on facts such as height with an illustrative image of the dinosaur in relation to a full-sized adult.
Compelling and intriguing, these blocks lend themselves perfectly to small world and imaginary play. Small world play is an imperative part of cognitive development in the early years. This kind of play nurtures creativity, allows children to think objectively and develops problem solving skills.
Play helps develop language skills and boost vocabulary as children narrate their play, use dialogue between characters, and describe actions and emotions. However, to spark curiosity and encourage creative play children must be inspired by the resources around them. The tickit dinosaurs are detailed, smooth to touch and just the right size for small hands to manipulate and handle, making them an ideal resource for this. By playing collaboratively children can also explore and acquire important social skills as they learn to negotiate roles, share resources, take turns, resolve conflicts and encourage empathy. All essential social skills for navigating relationships later in life. Through focussed and independent play children can immerse themselves in their activity, building their attention span and concentration skills. The intricate laser detailing on the dinosaur blocks provides a sensory and calming element to play, allowing children to practise mindfulness and be present in the moment. Additionally, through small world play, both collaborative and independent, children can explore and express emotions in a safe and supportive environment. They may act out scenarios that reflect their own experiences or feelings, helping them understand and process emotions.
At Commotion we believe that before a child sits still to hold a pencil and write, they should use their hands to play, discovering and refine their fine motor skills in a fun and natural way. This is why we are dedicated to developing resources, like our new Wooden Dinosaur Blocks, to support this. Fine motor skills are crucial for important everyday activities such as writing, using cutlery, tying shoelaces and getting dressed.
Engaging fine motor skills through activities like manipulating small objects will help children strengthen the muscles in their hands and fingers, improve hand-eye coordination, and enhance dexterity, all of which are essential for tasks like holding a pencil and forming letters. The dinosaur blocks provide a variety of play opportunities to support and practise fine motor skills. Use the dinosaur blocks to trace around or create crayon rubbings, this activity will give a new element of play to these charming wooden toys, allowing children to discover their detailing and make their own creations. This will also introduce pencil holding and provide an opportunity for practising the pincher grip instinctively.
Subconsciously hone spatial awareness, fine motor and reason skills by creating a dinosaur stack. These blocks, when carefully placed on top of each other can be balanced high. This is not an easy task and there are many variations that can work. It will challenge children and adults alike- we dare you to try!
To conclude, our new tickit Wooden Dinosaur Blocks have been designed by us to inspire young adventurers and budding palaeontologists to learn and develop key life skills through holistic play. These captivating wooden toys will spark curiosity about the prehistoric world, inspire creative language skills, refine motor and problem-solving skills and provide opportunities for both focussed and collaborative play.
