narnia Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 sshhhhhh, I think this might be secret, but..................................I was talking to some of the staff from CP at the trade fair yesterday and one of them told me they are looking to make a range of OUTDOOR equipment for next year! I'm saving up now, that piggy bank is going to be busy! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 ooooooooooooooooooooooh!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamgirl Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I might have some money to buy some community playthings blocks. We are in a school based nursery, 30 in each session. What do you recommend? Solid or hollow? Preschool set or a different one? Help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cait Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 We love the large hollow ones at Preschool - a bit more challenging to move about than the smaller size, but that helps with core strength. Hollow are easier to carry than solid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamgirl Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 On the picture on the website they look quite small as though they are used for small world. I thought they were for big building like boats, cars etc. did you get the preschool set?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 Hi I had the privilege to visit Pen Green on Friday and they had solid and hollow bricks. I was waiting to visit to see them before purchasing. The hollow ones are large and quite heavy, but I can see lots of opportunities in all areas for them. Have decided to get the pre-school set too. Have fun I can't wait to get them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamgirl Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 So are you getting the hollow preschool set then, Bridger? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I would love the hollow blocks too and can see endless possibilities for how they would be used. For those lucky people who already have them, do you find them easy to pack away in the trolley/cart or are they used so much in different combos that it's not an issue and also, do you find you have many accidents with them? I am being over cautious I know and have lots of wood, planks, crates etc anyway but I always wonder, with the blocks being so lovely but so hard and rigid if they are a problem in any way particularly indoors? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted March 18, 2012 Share Posted March 18, 2012 I am going to get both yippee. :1b Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 we have both and yes, the children DO occasionally get bumped with them, but oddly enough, they never complain! We emptied one of our rooms on Thursday and the whole group of children were playing with them........................one of the nicest things was a pair of children who used the very long blocks to make a bed........then they took two of the large cylinders to make bedside lamps, BUT one of the cylinders was new, and the girl complained that 'oh no, this light is TOO bright! I need a darker one!' and so she collected one of the older cylinders, which she said was 'nice and dark'..........wasn't that just lovely??? Incidentally, we sent a photo of one of our trucks to CP to ask them about it. We showed them the logo, which is a little different from the one they use now, so we were asking when it changed. The answer?? They stopped using that logo in...................1962!! which means that our truck, which is still in almost perfect condition, is at least 50 years old! we showed them photos of some other vehicles and many of them ar over 30 years old. They also think our original ( saved from the furnace) blocks are from the mid 60's. Value for money???? Absolutely! Dreamgirl, buy both if you have the money.........................if you haven't got enough, then go for the solid ones first, they are vital in my humble opinion ( also if you phone CP, they will send you a free dvd about block play and why it is so important, they have several dvd's and booklets, or you can download them from their website, under resources). We are lucky enough now to have the mini ones, standard size and hollow blocks too. It's taken many years to accumulate them, but if I had to get rid of all the other toys in my setting, the blocks are the one thing I'd hang on to like grim death! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyanne Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 I would love the hollow blocks too and can see endless possibilities for how they would be used. For those lucky people who already have them, do you find them easy to pack away in the trolley/cart or are they used so much in different combos that it's not an issue and also, do you find you have many accidents with them? I am being over cautious I know and have lots of wood, planks, crates etc anyway but I always wonder, with the blocks being so lovely but so hard and rigid if they are a problem in any way particularly indoors? We've had ours about 3 weeks now and have had 1 accident with them - a few children where kneeling on the floor with blocks, leaning over them and a two year old went to pick up a block and caught another child on the head with it as she lifted it - result bumped head. I know so much detail as there was a member of staff nearby working 1-1 with a different child, and she saw the whole thing... (Yes, I think she could have reminded them to be careful not to lean over when other children were picking them up too :-/ ) But we've had none when the children have used them on their own :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted March 19, 2012 Author Share Posted March 19, 2012 PS, the first set we had is what is now the preschool set........................... but if you are unsure, phone CP for advice, in my experience they are always very helpful and will offer good advice and without any hard sell. PPS, do you know you can go to visit their workshop in Robertsbridge ( near Hastings, we're going next month!!), to have a look at how the equipment is made, and you can have a play around with the room settings to see how things will fit in your space. I'mreally looking forward to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deb Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 We have the hollow blocks on our decking area and the unit blocks indoors. The largest hollow blocks are heavy but excellent for muscle development! Children know to ask an adult for help getting the blocks off of the trolley if it is fully stacked because the long planks are the retaining walls as it were, we only remove them the pile is at a safe height. We generally help the children with the larger blocks or the other blocks until at a safe height for the children to do it themselves. I think getting them out and packing them away is almost as much fun for them as making things. Our children also made beds out them's, very peculiar as you would think they would go for soft furnishings for a bed! We've had the odd pinched finger where one child stands on the end of a plank that the other was picking up, and the odd tumble but it's an excellent way to teach the children to risk assess themselves by asking questions does that look safe, is it wobbly, what might happen if you stand on that plank? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamgirl Posted March 19, 2012 Share Posted March 19, 2012 Thank you narnia. Very helpful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greenfinch Posted March 25, 2012 Share Posted March 25, 2012 Thank you for all your replies to my concerns, I really will have to save up for them but can see they are worth it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 UPDATE: Community Playthings have a special offer on blocks right now................... a lovely 20%........yes, 20 per cent..............off the starter trolley full of blocks.................tempting!! Offer runs through to the end of April Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamgirl Posted March 26, 2012 Share Posted March 26, 2012 Just been to look on the website. Where does it say about the offer?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
narnia Posted March 26, 2012 Author Share Posted March 26, 2012 http://www.communityplaythings.co.uk/products/blocks/unitblocks/F152.html it's the introductory set with storgae chest, F152............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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