Summer vacation is a golden opportunity for children to have plenty of time to "think" and "create."
While building blocks are often thought of as a plaything for small children, the more pieces you have, the wider the scope for creativity becomes.
From the works created at last year's event, **"Let's Play with 1000 'Tsumikeezu' Blocks!"**, we've carefully selected 20 ideas that can serve as inspiration for summer vacation projects. This first part introduces 10 of them!
Why is block play recommended for summer vacation?
Summer vacation offers ample time, making it easier to try creating larger projects than usual.
Through block play, children naturally develop various skills, such as:
- Concentration
- Spatial awareness
- Creativity
- Problem-solving skills
- Communication skills (in collaborative projects)
The process of trial and error itself—asking "How can I prevent it from collapsing?" or "Can I make it taller?"—becomes a valuable learning experience.
What was "Let's Play with 1000 'Tsumikeezu' Blocks!"?
At last year's event, participants were able to freely use about 1000 blocks to create whatever they imagined.
With so many blocks, they could attempt to build large structures, vehicles, or cityscapes that they wouldn't normally be able to create.
At the venue, both children and adults became engrossed, losing track of time as they enjoyed creating their works.
All the creations were born from free ideas, unconstrained by preconceived notions.
Please enjoy browsing them with your child, imagining "What should we build next?"!
20 Block Creations to Try This Summer!
① Untitled
Number of pieces used
6 pieces
Key point
This is a work by a 1-year-old in the 1-year-old class at Kiddy Shonan C-X Nursery, where we held an event. The way it maintains balance despite the bottom piece being a cube is amazing! Since the child couldn't vocalize a title yet, I expressed it as "Untitled" in an artistic way!
② Heart House
Number of pieces used
23 pieces
Key point
The cute heart is represented by vertically aligned rectangular prisms. The key to success is being able to arrange them without knocking them over! It looks like orange and yellow Tsumikeezu are relaxing comfortably in the middle.
③ Blockade
Number of pieces used
12 pieces
Key point
This piece looks like it's saying, "You can't pass here!" with outstretched arms. The key point is how the two rectangular prism arms support the weight of the face and hat. It seems like it could help develop a sense of balance!
④ "A"
Number of pieces used
24 pieces
Key point
The Hiragana character "A" expressed with cubes! Cubes are versatile, so they are great for games like this where you represent letters. By the way, a 2-year-old boy's mother created this to represent the title of a certain educational TV show that her son loves.
⑤ Camera
Number of pieces used
22 pieces
Key point
This camera is inspired by a film camera, not a smartphone camera. By using triangular prisms around the lens in the middle, you can almost hear the "click" of the shutter! The idea of using triangular prisms for representation is brilliant.
⑥ Colosseum
Number of pieces used
60-70 pieces
Key point
This artwork uses light green Tsumikeezu to represent gladiators. Although it might be hard to tell from the photo, the base uses triangular prisms and cubes, and by layering rectangular prisms alternately on top, the atmosphere of the Colosseum building with its arched openings is skillfully recreated.
⑦ Spiderweb
Number of pieces used
56 pieces
Key point
Cubes, triangular prisms, and rectangular prisms are cleverly assembled and fit perfectly. Excellent work! By having all the Tsumikeezu's sprout marks facing upwards, it represents insects caught in a spiderweb. Hearing that, it's fascinating how the sprout marks begin to look like insect wings. However, it seems they've been caught by a very hungry spider...
⑧ A Chair You Can Actually Sit On
Number of pieces used
Approx. 200 pieces
Key point
A girl of about 5 years old is actually sitting on it! It's a proper chair with a backrest. Since the seat is made of rectangular prisms, the friction with the cubes prevents it from collapsing when you sit down or stand up. (If the seat were also entirely made of cubes, it would be quite prone to collapsing.) The power of trial and error is amazing!
⑨ Haniwa Foot
Number of pieces used
10 pieces
Key point
The shape of the foot is exactly like a Haniwa! Triangular prisms and cubes are combined to support each other in a delicate balance. It's a world of physics. This was made by the mother of the girl who made the previous chair!
⑩ See-Through Building
Number of pieces used
31 pieces
Key point
Look at the floor where the blue Tsumikeezu are placed. A rectangular prism floor rests on two triangular prisms. It seems simple at first glance, but you can't place it if the balance is off. The position of the triangular prisms is key! The red Tsumikeezu also remain still.
Recommended Challenge Creations by Age
There's no need to make them exactly the same! Enjoy arranging them yourself.
Ages 1-2
Creations that require relatively few pieces: ① Untitled ② Heart House
Ages 3-4
Three-dimensional creations or slightly taller creations: ③ Blockade ④ "A" ⑤ Camera
Ages 5 and up
Creations that use many blocks and require delicate balance: ⑥ Colosseum ⑦ Spiderweb ⑧ A Chair You Can Actually Sit On ⑨ Haniwa Foot ⑩ See-Through Building
Summary
Because there are no set ways to play with blocks, each person's individuality and ideas are directly reflected in their creations.
The works introduced here were also completed through trial and error, thinking for oneself, rather than following a textbook.
This summer vacation, we encourage parents and children to discuss "What should we create?" and challenge yourselves to make various works. Each block you stack will surely become an unforgettable summer memory!
Next time, we will introduce the remaining 10 items in the second part. Stay tuned!