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At The Bottom Of The Sea Of Japan

Some scene we made from Japanese waffle building blocks – Gakken.

Unlike Plus Plus waffle blocks, Gakken blocks have pieces of many different shapes. They have round and curved pieces, long beams and H-like pieces. The empty spaces inside the blocks also can have different sizes and shapes, so you can stack inside different pieces in different positions. All this allows even more building possibilities than the waffle blocks sets with similar pieces. However, some pieces have less connection opgtions, because they don’t have pegs on the sides, or have only one hole.

Gakken brand appeared in Tokyo back in 1946 when it became an important component of Japan’s post-war efforts to rebuild the nation. Back then, it became incredible important to properly raise a new generation that will be able to create a better future.

The founder and educator, Hideto Furuoka, created first Gakken waffle buidling blocks. He later told that his inspiration was traditional Japanese wooden houses. There he saw an idea of flat blocks people can took apart and rebuild again when they need to. So he decided to create a toy which repeats this principle. Children can connect these Japanese waffle building blocks, stack them, lay them, plug, or tuck blocks in different orientations, for example, horizontally, vertically, and diagonally.

At The Bottom Of The Sea Of Japan
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K’Nex Pal

One of the smallest sets of baby Knex – 16 parts in total. From all the details, we made this completely not-scary monster. The set is called Monster Buddies. We bought solely because of the closing black eyes and swirling horns. This is Knex’s policy – different sets have different interesting details, so you have to buy additional horns, ears, fins…

K'Nex Pal
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PIXIO Tropic – 60 Small Magnetic Building Blocks for Kids & Adults

This is one of the smaller PIXIO sets, containing 60 pieces in 4 colors. Fully compatible with any other PIXIO building block sets.

Although the magnetic cubes in PIXIO sets are smaller than those found in most magnetic building kits, measuring only 8mm each, they are still remarkably strong. They have the ability to keep rather big toys together once assembled. These cubes are designed to be used as “pixels” in both 2D and 3D sculptures and toys. They can be easily assembled, played with, and then reassembled again, offering endless creative possibilities.

PIXIO Tropic - 60 Small Magnetic Building Blocks for Kids & Adults
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Tegu House

When we saw a picture of a house from the Tegu constructor this spring, we were eager to purchase a new set of Tegu Explorer. We settled on the Nelson version – pieces of orange, green, light blue, dark blue. The roof superstructure with the pipe is simply lying on top. It is not fixed, since there are no magnets at the base of the trapezoids. This is what confused me when buying a set. I was completely sure that the superstructure is holding by magnetic connection…

Tegu House