These beautifully-made soft blocks, designed for your little ones’ developing brain, engage your babe from the newborn stage all the way into the early toddler years.

Packages start at $25 for a Ramp Kit and you can get a Castle Kit for $450. The aforementioned cardboard blocks are about $40, which might make Buildies a bit of a stretch for parents of picky ...

“A block doesn’t always have to be made of wood, or even block-shaped, to be an excellent medium for building.” Here, Lange shares her recommendations for the best building toys for young kids.

When kids play with blocks, they're beginning to build. Sponsor Message "The ability to construct has to do with our whole culture — where do we live, how do we make our homes," she says.