When I saw this unique building set I had to find out more about it. KidsOnRoof makes this Totem Building Cards set which is designed to let your child’s imagination run wild. Approved for ages 3 and up, the set consists of 120 building cards that are made to look like metal, wood, fire, air, and more. Included are instructions that tell kids how to build a building, plane, sailboat, and fighter plane, or your child can let his imagination take over and build whatever he wants. I’m going to have to buy these for my son, who is an avid builder. It’s $36 at LouLousCorner.com.

One of my son’s favorite gifts he received for his 5th birthday last week was a set of Wedgits. He already had the Wedgits To Go 35 Piece Set (shown above) and wanted more to add to his collection. I had never heard of Wedgits until a friend of ours gave my son the To Go set about a year ago. Made by Imagability, Wedgits are bright, chunky geometric blocks that fit together in various ways, allowing kids to build to the height of their imagination. The complex thinking and experimentation they promote is evident every time my son builds something new with his Wedgits. Whether he’s trying to copy a design on the Design Cards that were included with his set or creating something new, he’s using spatial and perceptual skills and honing his dexterity.

Wedgits are recommended for ages 3 and up (because of some of the small parts). I’d highly recommend them as an educational tool that’s fun for a child to play with while he’s simultaneously learning. You can purchase the Wedgits To Go 35 Piece Set at Amazon.com for $44.99. It comes in its own handy carrying case, so your child can even build on-the-go.

Here’s a toy that your child can actually help build. Cardboard Designs has produced a line of children’s structures that are eco-friendly and made solely from cardboard. Their Build Your Own Dollhouse, recommended for ages 3 and up, provides a blank slate your child can decorate in her own way, with paint, crayons, fabrics, anything she can think of. It looks like some adult assembly might be required, as instructions are provided. The dollhouse folds up for easy storage when play is done for the day.

The dollhouse measures 27.5″ x 15″ x 33″ when constructed. You can get a closer look at ArteBebe.com, where the dollhouse sells for $58 (plus a $10 oversize shipping charge).

These unique blocks from Haba allow your child to build structures reminiscent of ancient Persia, Syria, or Egypt. The Middle Eastern Block Set consists of 50 wooden pieces in 13 different shapes. They can be used by a child to create a Middle Eastern village, or added to other Haba block sets to make larger structures. Each block measures about 1″. The set is recommended for ages 5 and up. It is made in China but is guaranteed by Haba to be safe. You can view and purchase this unique building set at BabyNaturopathics.com for $61.50. It would make a great holiday gift.

Haba Sevilla Building Blocks are made from beechwood and measure 2 inches. Their size and shape makes them easily stackable, and the bright colors make kids want to play with them. Included in the set of 25 building blocks are a block with a rattle, a block with a bell, a block with a prism, a block with a mirror, a block with a magnifier, and a block with a peep hole. Recommended for ages 1 1/2 and up, they are designed to be compatible with other Haba building blocks as well.

Fun for a boy or a girl, these blocks would make a great Christmas gift. At $70, they won’t break the bank, either. Take a closer look at LandbridgeToys.com.

In this day and age, when shopping for toys, one doesn’t always know what one will get. There have been so many safety recalls, problems with melamine in plastic toys, problems with imports from China, and so forth, that it might make parents afraid of buying toys for their children this holiday season.

If you feel like this, it might be a good idea to return to basic toys, such as this classic Roy Toy Tree House Play Set. These building blocks have been made in Maine from real wood since the 1930s. This is a practical, quality toy. The 71-piece set comes in a reusable storage container.

Recommended for ages 4 and up, you can purchase this toy for $24.95 at VermontCountryStore.com. It’s one gift you can feel good about buying and giving to your child.

I never liked having my children playing with anything that was heavy, had sharp or pointed edges or was made from any kind of material that could splinter or crack. No matter how much they told me they would be careful and not poke their brother or sister (or themselves), I was adamant.  But I think I would have been at ease giving this Mulitcolor Foam Block Toy Set to them to play with.

This 180 piece Multicolor Blocks by Edushape are soft, colorful, light blocks and textured animals. It is excellent for developing motor coordination, creativity, and understanding of geometric shapes. Children can create and recreate ever changing environments. Make sure you find an appropriate storage container for these 180 pieces. Anything from a laundry basket to a plastic bin will do. Just make it readily accessible to your child for play and clean up.

This toy is appropriate for ages 2 and up and is available for $64.95 at SensoryEdge.com.

Tree Blocks®are such an unusual block set. Each set comes with some “Y” or forked shaped pieces, and pieces of various diameters and lengths.

Tree Blocks® are made from discards of managed paper forests — no living trees are harmed in the production of Tree Blocks®. “We identify abandoned or end of productive cycle plots and contact the farmers,” it says at the Tree Blocks®Web Site. “We come in to push the old trees over, thereby removing the roots. Then we purchase the wood and haul it away to process. This leaves the farmer clean soil and seed money, so it can be back into production.”

The entire set comes ready to give as a gift in a drawstring cotton bag. Safe, lab tested. Conforms to CPSC & ASTM 963- F, and EN 71. Sounds like you can purchase this natural product with a clean conscience, and at a price of just $39.95 at naturalpod.com, it’s a toy that’s affordable too.

Your child can get playful with this little caravan of a Camel, Elephant, Giraffe, Bird and Lion. I think children will want to “handle” these animal blocks in the Zid Zid Caravan Block Set. They look like they’d weigh pretty solidly in your hand, and the cool vinyl material coupled with the embroidery details makes this a tactile delight. The company also offers a variety of block styles/themes, including “Off to the Country” and ”In the City Blocks”. It’s a very unique concept in children’s blocks.

Zid Zid Kids was founded by married artist/designer couple Julie Klear and Moulay Essakalli in 2003 after they and their two children relocated from Massachusetts to Morocco, where Moulay was born and raised. Julie and Moulay combine the local warm colors and unique designs to their line of high quality products for generations to enjoy. All of their products arel handmade by artisans in Marrakech, Morocco.

The caravan block set includes the colors blue, brown, orange, silver, gold. They are handmade from high quality vinyl with fine embroidery details.  The set even comes with a re-usable cotton drawstring bag. Sizes range from 3-14 inches.

Purchase this unique block set for $68 at pokkadots.com.

Things that move, swirl, and flow, and don’t make a mess on the floor make everyone happy. These are certainly very unusual blocks compared to the ones I used to play with as a child. I’m sure I’d be right down there on the carpet with my children playing with these Water Blocks by Plan Toys.

There’s just something about the movement of water that captures our attention — whether we’re adults or toddlers. I’ve noticed that children will tend to toss or step on blocks after a while but I think these Water Blocks will hold their attention a little longer. With the addition of colored water, these could be the building blocks of a sea port or their own Sea World.

The Water Blocks by Plan Toys was the Teachers’ Pick in Parent & Child 2004. The set includes three square blocks with red, yellow and blue water, and three semi-circle blocks with red, yellow and blue water. Made from sustainable rubberwood, it’s appropriate for ages 3 and up.

The Water Blocks by Plan Toys measure 4.25″ x 5.5″L and can be purchased for $30 at UncommonGoods

Your children will have fun creating and building their own fort, playhouse or grand sculpture with the Spaceframe Sculpture Kit by Scott Klinker for Offi. There are endless possibilities. Fortune Magazine names the Spaceframe one of the 25 “Best Products of the Year”.

It’s made of a unique polyester material that is completely safe for children, and 100% recyclable. The 20 piece set includes: four 40″ x 15″ large panels; four 24″ x 8″ small panels; four 13-1/2″ x 15″ large trapezoids; and eight 6″ x 3-1/2″ small trapezoids. Purchase one for $199.99 at SpunkySprout.com.

The Hable Construction Canvas Picnic Tote can be used for more than just picnics.  It’s great for beach towels, extra clothes, toys, books, anything that can go anywhere when traveling with kids. I’m sure this would have been a standard item in our family car. And I’m sure it would be just fine as a Picnic Tote too.

The Hable Construction Canvas Picnic Tote comes in this bright and springy Lime Stripe and costs $165.00 at PetitLuxe.com.

I can’t think of many things more likely to entice a toddler to stay at the table and eat than fun cutlery like this construction set available at FlyingPeas.com.  We’re fighting a big battle with my two year old right now, who doesn’t feel the need to sit at the table with the rest of us at meal times.  Although trucks aren’t her thing, per se, something along these lines would likely be a good idea for her, especially since she thinks everything from fruit snacks to potato chips needs to be eaten with a spoon or fork.

The set includes a fork, a spoon and a pusher to help your little one master getting food onto his or her utensils.  All three pieces feature textured grips, and can be put in the dishwasher for easy clean-up of even the messiest of toddler meals.  You might even consider taking these out to eat with you to keep your little one entertained (and seated) at the table.  The set retails for $20 at FlyingPeas.com.

My son has the Little Tikes B.C. Builders I-Fell Tower and after the initial confusion over how to put the tower together, he has had no trouble throwing it together and either pressing the button to knock it all down or using the dinosaur’s tail to destroy it.

He’s a fan of puzzles and couldn’t be any happier than when he’s playing with something that involves assembly. What little person doesn’t love destroying (with permission!) what he’s built up?! Perfect for the imaginative preschooler mind, the colorful set comes with a dinosaur that makes constructions noises, boulders, a tower, and some cavemen.

You can get yours at amazon.com for $58.20.