Guest Posted March 2, 2008 Posted March 2, 2008 Hi We are in the very fortunate position to have some money to spend on our outside area and want to buy some community playthings blocks. Everyone here always seems to rave about them - but what sizes would you suggest. I love the big ones and the half size set with a trolley. Recommendations please as I've never used them I'm confused. Thanks
HappyMaz Posted March 2, 2008 Posted March 2, 2008 Lucky you! We have the nursery set with trolley - however this is very small indeed. How old are your children? Given that they're for outdoor use I'd go for the biggest size you can afford - but if you have littlies you might want to go for the half size set rather than the full size. You could give them a ring - they are incredibly helpful and am sure they'll be happy to advise! Probably the best investment you could make - ours come out every day and the children never tire of using them. Maz
Marion Posted March 2, 2008 Posted March 2, 2008 We have the large hollow blocks for outdoors and the large unit blocks indoors
narnia Posted March 2, 2008 Posted March 2, 2008 we have the three layered trolley load, plus lots of hollow blocks...................and i agree, spend as much as you can to buy as many as you can! They also make packs of little ones for table top work......
womble Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Hi We are in the very fortunate position to have some money to spend on our outside area and want to buy some community playthings blocks. Everyone here always seems to rave about them - but what sizes would you suggest. I love the big ones and the half size set with a trolley. Recommendations please as I've never used them I'm confused. Thanks
womble Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 We use the large hollow ones outside and are always popular. We also have a small set of small ones for use outside but these dont seem to get used as much. Womble
HappyMaz Posted March 5, 2008 Posted March 5, 2008 Can I ask a hollow block question? When you all say you use the blocks outside, do you have a covered play area and if not do they get played with when the ground is wet/damp? I keep looking at my lovely new nursery set when we pack the blocks away in their little trolley and wonder if we should let the children take them outside, but worry about packing damp blocks away in the cupboard at the end of the session. I know that the wood is a natural material and the rain shouldn't hurt them necessarily, but I do wonder about putting damp blocks back in our cupboard. I'm not precious about them (they're ageing naturally and look better now they're showing signs of being used) but I just thought I'd ask... Maz
Guest Posted March 7, 2008 Posted March 7, 2008 I love our community play blocks, we have the 3 layer ones in a small wooden chest, they come out every day, the children adore them
hali Posted March 7, 2008 Posted March 7, 2008 we have just invested in 2 sets of ciommunity play blocks - they are fab xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Guest Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 HappyMaz, we have a set of large hollow blocks which are used inside and out. They do get marked being outside. as we have no cover in our outside area. We use a towel to dry them (which the children love doing) before stacking them back in size inside. If they get really grubby we use soapy water on washing-up brushes to clean them. They are one of the best things we have bought, wish we had money for more! Tissue
Guest Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 Used our large ones outside for over 20yrs.Have never dried them when they are put under cover (lazy like that) and they are fine.Somehow being 'weathered' makes them more playable as they are not crisp new virgin wood if you understand what I mean.They are no longer wood bricks they are imagination blocks. One got overlooked one summer in deep undergrowth and wasn't found until autumn.It was dirty, had been out in the weather a couple of months, covered in worms and slugs.We gave it a good wash and it was fine-a bit deeper colour than the others but I think I would find it hard to locate which one it is now.
Guest Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 I want to invest some more money in outdoor play equipment for my childminding setting and would love to buy some large blocks, can I just ask if anyone is able to recommend the cheapest place to buy them from ? I'm also desperately looking for piping etc as my children spend more time outdoors than in, I've already got stepping stones and wooden planks for the children to balance on.
Guest Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 Hali, if its not a cheeky question how much did you pay for 2 sets of hollow blocks? or approx if you prefer.........
narnia Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 hollow blocks will set you back up to...........hold your breath......................£2,000 (inc vat) for a large set, have a look on the comunity playthings website! i believe Galt make a similar set though, which may be cheaper..................though bear in mind that CP give a 10 year guarantee on everything they make, and you do get what you pay for!.I was fortunate to be given all my blocks, including the hollow blocks, by a friend who worked at a school, where the caretaker was going to burn them in the school's furnace as he was fed up with them being in his way when he cleaned!!! I reckon i have several hundreds of pounds worth!! Lucky me for having such a good friend
hali Posted March 8, 2008 Posted March 8, 2008 umm think it was around £200 - we got a set of basic bolcks then a set of different shaped ones
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