Pattern Blocks & Boards / Tangrams

[TeachingMyToddlers]

http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Beginner-Pattern-Blocks/dp/B00005O63Q/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1290104182&sr=8-1-fkmr0

We currently own these but they are too easy for DD, she is ready to move on to something more challenging so I was looking to get her a set for Christmas.


http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Pattern-Blocks-Boards/dp/B00006JZCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1290104130&sr=8-1-spell

I just ordered these, but they came in the mail today and I am disappointed that I don't think they are going to work for us. Unlike the beginner set, they don't have "grooves" in the wood to secure them in place once she puts them on the board. They will just slide all over the surface of the board. Her fine motor skills are pretty good but not THAT good that can can do it....well, I don't think so anyway, maybe she might surprise me?

(FYI these are an absolute choke hazard to anyone looking and state for ages 3 and up, but these types of things I only do at the kitchen table one on one with her and make sure she doesn't drop any for my 10 month old. DD doesn't mouth anything anymore but I still do these kinds of activities with her to be on the safe side when my son is sleeping because he mouths everything, just a heads up it is not "child safe" under 3)

Anyway, does anyone know of a "next step up" beyond the Melissa & Doug Beginner board that would work, preferably with "grooves" in the board to lock them in place? I saw a magnetic set out there but it didn't have any templates, it was just free play tangrams and I was really looking for something she could match to the pattern.  Or, alternately, do you have any ideas on how I can modify this to make it work? The best I can come up with is velcro? magnets? (both glued to the back of each and every piece. sounds like a big pain. magnets might be a bit easier though, but neither would lie completely "flat" and it would color up some of the color template)

I came across "magnetic super mind" and "magnetic mighty mind" .....no time to link at this very second, but if anyone happens to be shopping too, can you figure out the difference?

[kizudo]

A friend of mine ordered a magnetic TANGRAM book and pieces from Scholastic for me.  Unfortunately, I won't be getting it until late next week.  I think each page has a template and, of course, the pieces are magnetic.  You might want to poke around on their site.

[LMsMum]

You could attach some sticky magnets to the back of your blocks, print out some patterns from the web instead and use them on a cookie sheet, keeping the boards to be used later. I did something similar: http://lmshomeschool.blogspot.com/2010/10/diy-pattern-blocks.html

Shame I can't think of any way to adapt the boards except sticking a bit of blue tack/play dough on the back of the blocks and see if that will be enough to keep them in place on the boards... There is actually such thing as blue tack colour, but price seems to be an equivalent to that of gold: http://www.officesource.co.uk/prods/6709/Bostik_Blu-Tack_Colour_80115_BK10909/

[nhockaday]

They do make self-stick velcro dots that you would just have to peel and stick.

[karmie]

http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Pattern-Blocks-Boards/dp/B00006JZCG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=toys-and-games&qid=1290104130&sr=8-1-spell
I just ordered these, but they came in the mail today and I am disappointed that I don't think they are going to work for us. Unlike the beginner set, they don't have "grooves" in the wood to secure them in place once she puts them on the board. They will just slide all over the surface of the board. Her fine motor skills are pretty good but not THAT good that can can do it....well, I don't think so anyway, maybe she might surprise me?

I didn't want to waste the money i'd spent on these pattern blocks, so I've made do.  I had the exact same problem as you.  At first, I used dots of blu-tack.  Then later I used either a thin white non-slip mat OR an almost clear not-so-non-slip-but-better-than-nothing mat (the kitchen cupboard liner kind).

This one is using dots of blu-tack
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5193538217_9a1ec90d9a_z.jpg

This one is on the non-slip white mat (i usually put the "template" under it - can roughly see the pattern, but not so clear)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4091/5194136632_eae85a64bd_o.jpg

In this photo, he had made this pattern himself.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5081016355_9be0456bc2_z.jpg
Putting them on the non-slip mats means he could explore the pattern blocks without them moving around as well.

This one is made with a template I printed out from the Pre-Kinders website. They have simpler templates. You can see the outline of the paper template UNDER the non-slip white mat.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4133/5194136414_49e2b54210_z.jpg

And this is what I use now that his dexterity has increased further. It's a translucent non-slip mat (it's not very very non-slip like the coloured mats but he can control better now)
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/5193558819_2c8b850b54_z.jpg

I really love these pattern blocks bc you can do so much with them - eg. creating shapes.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4148/5194136178_2f48c4d347_z.jpg

He figured out these hexagons himself:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/5081015171_96ee170160_z.jpg

.... And exploring tessallations:
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4104/5194136792_71d0360e9f_z.jpg

Hope that helps!

sam

[TeachingMyToddlers]

haven't decided yet what I'm going to do, thank you all for your ideas!

[waterdreamer]

http://toys.scholarschoice.ca/products/Puzzles-Games-2055/3-Years-Old-554/Magnetic-Pattern-Block-Kit-Melissa-Doug-p9798/pstart1/
What about that? They are magnets so they won't slip and slip.

[annisis]

Maybe you could glue toothpicks around the edges along the black lines? Or use a puff paint? Or popsicle sticks?

You could even take puff paint to the inside lines and then use something with more of an edge along the outline, like toothpicks...?

Or wire? That might work... But then again, this may all be too much trouble. 

[TeachingMyToddlers]

waterdreamer- you rock. that was the exact set I was referring to the first post, that I found a magnetic set but it didn't have templates. I was searching so fast looking for the "perfect" one I was mostly looking at the pictures. It looks like that M & D model DOES have templates (12) that come with it. Free pattern play is good, but matching and sequencing is also great to learn too.

Looks like I found the one, thank you for point out what I missed the first time!

I am going to keep the set I already have and use it after DD masters the magnetic set. Super!!! Now, I need to go add it to my list of things to order.

Did I mention how much I LOVE MELISSA & DOUG????? I swear, 75% of what is under the tree so far is M & D. I can always trust the quality and it's not cheap plastic junk. Love it.

[aangeles]

Not sure if my reply will still be helpful since this thread is two months old, but, here it is - 

Ella loves playing with her Tangoes Jr. tangram set http://www.amazon.com/Rex-Games-JRT001-Tangoes-Jr%252e/dp/B000F6RWW8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1296077329&sr=8-1. The pieces are magnetic, are sturdy and chunky enough for her little hands, everything goes into the carry case and is very portable for travel. Also, I liked that there are two levels of difficulty for each puzzle card - on one side is level 1 with patterns for her to match and the reverse side is level 2 without patterns. There are additional puzzle card packs which you can order once your child masters the ones that come with the case. She is currently doing the level 1 cards without too much difficulty. 

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