Manipulatives come in so many different shapes and sizes and offer up a fantastic range of learning opportunities for early childhood development. Maria Cantillana shares her experience with one of our favorite sets, the Geo Block Build! Her kids amazed us all as they used a typical manipulative set to not only work through some fundamental skills, but instinctively engaged in open-ended play-based creativity and fun!

Constructive Playthings and the US Toy family of brands have offered teachers a wide selection of educational toys and classroom resources since 1953.  We have always strived to offer you, our customer, a product that is useful, engaging, and well made. As an early childhood educator, my grandmother established the company’s vision of creating safe, quality learning products that could be passed down from generation to generation. She wanted to offer furniture and toys that are built to last the test of time, even in an active classroom setting. Thus, making Constructive Playthings products an educator’s favorite for over 60 years.

With so many children returning to the classroom this Fall, our team feels it's important to highlight the emotions children may experience as we transition to this new normal. Schools and child care centers truly are a safe place for our children, and you, as educators and care providers, play such an important role. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do to support our children through this unprecedented time. We hope this guest post is helpful as we navigate this new school year!

The new school year is kicking off in many areas around the country. Whether you are heading back to the classroom this Fall or continuing to learn at home, we love seeing all the enthusiasm and new ideas being incorporated into your learning centers. One concept we can’t get enough of is open-ended play. No matter the age of your kids or the setting of your child’s education, open-ended toys create endless learning opportunities! 

Back to school season is upon us, and this year it is more special than ever! Many children are heading back to school in-person for the first time in over a year, or entering a classroom that finally feels a bit more normal.