House of Burke: Cooperative Sibling Play with KORXX Blocks

(Disclosure: We were sent two sets of KORXX blocks in exchange for this post.)

Over here at House of Burke, we like to consider ourselves toy gurus. You name it, we have it. It isn't very often that we are blown away by a new product. Recently, however, we were introduced to KORXX blocks. KORXX blocks are a unique, all natural and sustainable block made out of cork. The cork itself is chemical free and safe for even the littlest kiddos to play with. This is super important to me, especially with a mouthing baby exploring.

Kingston and Bentley are really close in age, but at this point in their lives, sometimes it can seem like they are worlds away. KORXX blocks are a safe toy for both of them to enjoy together. We had a great time using them to facilitate cooperative sibling play.

Both boys were incredibly excited to dive into the blocks when we got them. They were drawn to the combination of both the colorful blocks and the all natural blocks. These blocks are super light weight, which is a dream when you have a baby involved in play. Kingston can be a little bit rough in his play. These blocks are soft, and wouldn't hurt if accidentally tossed at someone. They are also quiet! Babies can sometimes be sensitive to loud noises, so the fact that these blocks are quiet during play is a big bonus. K can even play with these while B naps without any conflict.

We engaged in several cooperative games with the KORXX blocks. My goal was to get both boys interacting together on a common playing field. I encouraged Kingston to help me "teach" Bentley how to interactive with the blocks.

Tower Building:

The first simple game we played was tower building. Kingston built a tower, and then allowed Bentley to knock it down. This had them both laughing and enjoying themselves! I was also able to make it challenging for Kingston by asking him to stack a certain number of blocks, a certain color of blocks, or a specific pattern. Bentley was keen on knocking the tower down and grabbing the first fallen block to chew on!

Picture Building:

The next simple activity we did was picture building. Bentley is learning the words to everything in the world around him, so Kingston and I used the blocks to build simple pictures and designs that portrayed objects that Bentley is learning the words for. Then I had Kingston tell him what each picture was. Some of the pictures we made were: a flower (pictured above), a house, and a car.

Outdoor Play:

We have really enjoyed engaging in block play with our KORXX blocks outside. KORXX blocks hold up incredibly well to the elements, and I don't have to worry about them getting wet, dirty, or ruined. This truly opens up the possibilities of outdoor play. Not only that, but they are so aesthetically pleasing, especially with the sun hitting them! One of our favorite outdoor games we engaged in was Block Toss. Both boys sat facing each other and tossed the block back and forth. We modeled this for Bentley who thought it was really fun to pass the block back. (As the second child, he is used to getting toys taken from him constantly, so this concept of passing was a pretty familiar one to him!)

Robot Building: All of our block play typically turns to "robot building". The KORXX blocks were no exception. These blocks stack exceptionally well, so using them to create characters in pretend play works really well.

Pretend Play: As mentioned above, KORXX blocks can be used for all kinds of pretend play. Pretend play is a fantastic base for cooperative play. Whatever Kingston is imagining, he shares it with Bentley and includes him in his fantasy. Below, Kingston is pretending that he has an icecream cone. We each took turns pretending to eat it! Icecream, robots, skyscrapers, and trees were just some of the objects Kingston and Bentley used in their pretend play.

These blocks are really so versatile. The colors and shapes included help to facilitate all kinds of different exploratory play. I love the action shot below of Kingston and Bentley building towers and knocking them down. They are truly engaged with both the blocks and each other.

So where can you buy KORXX? KORXX products can be purchased HERE! Also, their amazing company can be invested in and supported over on their Kickstarter! By backing their company, you will receive their products at an incredible discount. Head over there to read more about their company. I think you will love what you see. They are an all natural, eco-friendly, family based company who truly cares about their customers and products!

Interested in getting some KORXX NOW?! KORXX has been generous enough to provide our readers with a giveaway! You can win your very own set of KORXX by entering the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Check out some other fantastic ideas for using your KORXX blocks:

Math with KORXX: Sorting Cork Blocks by Different Attributes from Still Playing School

More or Less Preschool Math Game with KORXX from Where Imagination Grows

KORXX Blocks Printable 3D Tangrams Cards from Lalymom

Developmental Toddler Block Play with KORXX from Lemon Lime Adventures

Preschool Science Activities with KORXX from Fun-A-Day