Manipulatives

3 years & up. Give block play a natural feel with our Branch Blocks. The intact textured bark on each building piece adds sensory exploration mirroring the organic benefits of outdoor play. These blocks empower children to construct all sorts of structures and develop key STEM skills such as sorting and stacking. The blocks' nature-inspired design will also deepen childrens' appreciation of nature and may even make them feel like they are constructing their own habitats. Includes 36 wood pieces.

5 years & up. Inspired by real-world physics and engineering, this STEM Explorers Machine Makers 9 STEP challenges help kids learn the fundamental mechanical principles. Embark on the latest STEM Explorers learning adventure! With this engaging set, kids will design, build, and test dynamic machines using the included challenge guide. As kids test and tweak their STEP creations, kids will hone the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are essential to STEM success. Includes a 50… More »

2 years & up. Encourage creative play, tactile exploration, and open-ended building using the PolyForm Star Connectors set. Children can easily fit the unique pieces into each other, building horizontally or vertically and creating exciting new shapes. Manipulating uniquely shaped objects requires children to use their fingers and hands in precise ways. The varied shapes also challenge children to adapt their grip and movement, further enhancing their dexterity. The vibrant pieces will help… More »

5 years and up. Revolutionize STEM play with the Plip™ Kit Silicone Connect System. Including arches, sticks, and Xs, the pieces in this kit are flexible and connect to one another via ball-and-socket ends. This means that children can use them to create any design imaginable; whether it's a rocket ship, an octopus, or a necklace. Plip™ Kit pieces can also be used as fidgets and sensory tools! Pull them apart to hear them POP! Set includes 46 pieces.

3 years & up. Roll your way into a good time with this marbulous-marble run! The durable, transparent pieces allow children to visually track the entire course of their marble as it makes its journey through several fun twists and turns. This Transparent Marble Run promotes fine motor skills, spatial relationships, logic, and STEM skills. The colorful pieces can fit together multiple ways, so children can design them differently each time. Have children drop the marbles in at different points… More »

2 years & up. Cultivate children's love of nature alongside their love of block play with this Wood Stackers Set. Inspired by the natural, polished shapes of river stones, these stones encourage children to build structures that resemble what they see when they explore nature. The stones are sanded smooth to highlight the beautiful gradient of the wood pieces. The variety of sizes will also help children understand concepts like weight, dimension, and balance. Set of 20. Smallest stone measures… More »

3 years & up. Spark creativity and high-speed building fun with the MAGNA-TILES® Rail Racers sets! The Rail Racers Deluxe 90-Piece Set lets children design exciting racetracks, ramps, bridges, and towers using patent-pending clear rails and microMAGS pieces that snap together easily, no prongs or connectors required. Children can launch included balls down their custom tracks while exploring concepts like speed, momentum, and cause-and-effect through hands-on STEM play. To expand the… More »

2 years & up. Build with soft colors of nature, creating organic patterns with friction-fit leaf shapes. Explore symmetry, develop fine motor and spatial skills. Construction activities can be enhanced through light table exploration. A beautiful, subdued, natural color palette and recycled material construction further enhance a child's connection to the natural world. Set includes 10 double-sided activity cards and 96 colorful, interlocking pieces.

3 years & up. These versatile, easy-fit tubes are the perfect hands-on manipulative for endless creative exploration! Use them independently or elevate playtime by incorporating them into a light table, sand, or water play for a dynamic sensory experience. Simply add a child's imagination, and watch as curiosity leads to exciting discoveries! Designed for durability and easy organization, this 80-piece set comes neatly stored in a sturdy, stackable container measuring 12"L x 7"W x… More »

3 years & up. Bring your architectural and engineering ideas to life! This Snap Together set features 360 cubes in four bright colors and four fun shapes. Connect these unbreakable cubes together in any direction to build unique structures. The possibilities are limitless! These building manipulatives encourage creativity and support the development of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Each piece measures .75". Included: 360 Plastic Cubes and a Plastic Tub.

18 months & up. Make building a captivating experience with this collection of Click Builders. Young children can design an infinite number of structures, which will improve their fine-motor skills, creative-thinking skills, and problem-solving skills. The transparent colors will also teach children about color patterns-especially if they play with these builders on a light table. This set universally connects with other builders. Smallest block size is 1.25". 72 piece set.

3 years & up. Design all types of construction vehicles with our engineering set. Perfectly sized for small hands, children can connect the chunky bolts, wheels, and joints. As children build, they boost planning and motor skills. A total of 210 pieces in a stackable plastic container.

3 years & up. Bring the stars down to Earth with these Star Puzzle Connecting Pieces. Like the universe, the possibilities for this set are vast. Children can connect the pieces to form shapes or conceive and execute their own designs. While they turn their imagination into reality, children will develop creative thinking skills, problem solving skills, and fine motor skills.

3 years & up. Our jumbo-sized beads are perfectly designed for little hands! Crafted from durable, unbreakable plastic, these beads are built to withstand years of hands-on learning in the classroom. This set includes 360 vibrant, chubby beads in six fun shapes and six bold colors, each featuring extra-large holes for frustration-free stringing. Packed in a convenient plastic container, these beads make for easy storage and endless creative fun. The round bead measures 0.75 inches, making it… More »

3 years & up. Unlock endless creativity with this vibrant 140-piece construction set! Featuring bright fluorescent colors and easy-to-connect pieces, this set sparks imagination and hands-on learning. With five unique shapes in five assorted colors, kids can explore countless building possibilities while developing fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities. Perfect for open-ended play, collaborative projects, and STEM learning adventures! Includes a sturdy, stackable… More »

3 years & up. From simple designs to more engineering marvels, these simple sticks connect from end to end or along any side. Add rings to make movement and added interest, the possibilities are endless.This large set includes 36 sticks (2.75"L) in 10 colors, 4 large rings (2" in diameter) and 6 small rings (1.5" in diameter) in 10 colors. 460 pieces.

3 years & up. Magic Connectors feature brightly colored pieces that snap together to create fun, free-form designs and letter shapes. These uniquely-shaped connectors enhance gross and fine motor skills through the creative building. Encourage children to build their own unique figures. Use these pieces in a lesson about shapes, and assign children a shape to build afterward. Longest piece measures 3". Included: 75 connectors, 6 wheels, 9 spokes, and plastic box.

3 years & up. Make patterning even more engaging with these Colorful Multi-Shape Links with Jar for Learning Shapes and Patterns. Children will love building chains using three different shapes and six colors with this giant 500 piece set. These shape links are great for counting and sorting activities too! This set promotes color recognition, shape recognition, dexterity, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. The pieces store in a convenient jar with screw-on lid and handle.

2 years & up. Add a new dimension to manipulative play with this 96 piece set. Simply clip the edges together to create an unlimited array of constructions. Build people, buildings, animals and more. Explore symmetry versus asymmetry, discover color combinations. Strengthens design, structure and balance skills. Enhance the designs by creating them on top of a light table. Comes with activity card(s).

3 years & up. This unique building set adds a new dimension to tube construction -- wheels! Children can build endless tube designs and add wheels to make them move. Easy-fit construction, this set includes 26 straight tubes, 26 shaped tubes, 6 tubes, 6 cross tubes, 8 wheels in assorted vibrant colors for a total of 72 pieces. This set also comes in a durable stackable plastic container.

3 years & up. How many animals can you stack? This delightful set includes 10 popular farmyard animals, a wheelbarrow, and a hay bale for endless stacking and imaginative play. Each piece can be used for stacking challenges or enjoyed individually for open-ended fun. Perfect for developing fine motor skills, balance, and creativity. The set comes neatly stored in a charming barn-style drawstring bag for easy cleanup and on-the-go play.

3 years & up. This 90-piece set includes a variety of items to create working waterways. Children can experiment with the effects that construction, gravity, and distance have on water pressure and flow as they create endless waterway configurations. Materials are transparent to allow for easy viewing of water flow. The Build a Waterway STEM Kit builds on children's natural curiosity by providing the materials and freedom to explore. The funnels, measuring pitchers, connector tubes, blockers,… More »

3 years & up. Gears! Gears! Gears! Beginner's Building Set Get "little engineers" building! Hands-on construction sets with spinning gears build early STEM skills such as problem solving, critical thinking, and perseverance. The perfect beginning set! Includes colorful gears, cranks, connectors, interlocking bases; and an Activity Guide. Challenge patterning and problem solving skills with these exciting sets of gears, cranks, connectors, pillars, and interlocking plates! Includes… More »

4 years & up. Build towers of quirky robots, spinning gears, and wobbling cranes with this Robot Factory set by Learning Resources. Stack robots on top of each other and place them on spinning gears or hang them from wobbling cranes and springs. Each unique robot and building piece can be attached to another in several different ways and from several different angles so that the only limit on engineering is your imagination. Promotes STEM learning. Size: Robots measure 2.25"H. Includes:… More »