Plus Plus blocks are a fun and versatile construction toy that inspires open-ended creativity in children and adults alike. These colorful interlocking blocks allow you to build anything you can imagine, from simple patterns to elaborate sculptures. As an engaging STEM activity, Plus Plus satisfies fine motor skills while stimulating creative thinking and problem solving.
This beginner’s guide will teach you everything you need to know to get started with Plus Plus blocks. We’ll cover what makes them special, who they’re good for, where to buy them, tips for building your first creations, and much more. By the end, you’ll be ready to tap into your inner architect and let your imagination run wild!
What Are Plus Plus Blocks?
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Plus Plus blocks are a type of interlocking plastic building block made in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. The blocks connect to each other on all sides thanks to round nubs and holes that perfectly align to hold pieces together.
Invented in Denmark, Plus Plus blocks combine the versatility of traditional building blocks with the creativity-sparking potential of art supplies. They inspire open-play better than specialized kits restricted to building one specific thing.
With over 60 vibrant colors and 12 unique shapes, it’s easy to mix and match pieces to create almost anything you can dream up. Build super simple patterns or mind-blowing 3D sculptures – Plus Plus sets no limits on originality.
Plus Plus makes building blocks accessible for preschoolers, but the system scales endlessly for older kids and adults. No matter your age or skill level, you can have fun piecing together unique constructions that show off your personality.
Benefits of Playing with Plus Plus Blocks
Building with Plus Plus blocks offers a wide range of developmental upsides beyond basic construction skills:
- Promotes creativity & imagination – With so many possible combinations, Plus Plus inspires you to experiment and think outside the box. There are no instructions, so you construct entirely original designs.
- Improves fine motor control – Fitting those little nubs into the holes takes precision! Great practice for little hands.
- Enhances spatial reasoning – Visualizing and manipulating 3D forms boosts understanding of shape, structure, balance and geometry.
- Inspires problem solving – Construction challenges stretch your planning, analysis and troubleshooting abilities.
- Easy to clean & reuse – Plus Plus pieces wipe down easily, with no weird sticky edges. Build, take apart, and rebuild to your heart’s content!
Whether at home or in a classroom setting, Plus Plus blocks engage minds of all ages while sparking creativity. The high-quality plastic is made for endless constructions and deconstructions.
Who Are Plus Plus Blocks Good For?
While very child-friendly, Plus Plus blocks appeal to builders of all ages:
Children
The colorful blocks are perfect for little hands starting at 18 months old. Building basic patterns helps develop fine motor control and hand-eye coordination.
As they grow, larger and more complex block sets let kids construct increasingly advanced 3D sculptures while having imaginative free play. Plus Plus is an open-ended toy that grows with your child.
Tweens & Teens
Middle and high schoolers enjoy the creative challenge of building intricate, artistic designs. Advanced kits satisfy teenage desires for sophisticated projects.
Plus Plus still offers play value for youth who have outgrown traditional toy blocks. The unused pieces can even function as fidget toys to occupy restless hands!
Adults
Grown-ups can use Plus Plus blocks for decorative art pieces, DIY home projects, desk accessories, fidget devices, or just plain old stress-relieving fun.
The absorption of building has a very meditative quality to ease anxiety or clear your mind after a long day. It’s no wonder Plus Plus blocks have a dedicated adult fan base.
Classroom Use
Teachers incorporate Plus Plus across various disciplines:
- Early education – Building fine motor skills, patterning, counting, shape recognition
- Math – Spatial reasoning, geometry, symmetry, fractions, measuring, problem solving
- Science & engineering – Design principles, physics experiments, prototyping innovations
- Art – Sculptures, pattern design, color mixing, creative exploration
- Special education – Develop dexterity, engagement, sequencing, following directions
With so much flexibility across ages and subjects, it’s easy to see why Plus Plus blocks have become a mainstay in many schools.
Top Places to Buy Plus Plus Blocks
While specialty retailers offer the largest Plus Plus assortments, you can also find selected sets and starter packs at major stores. Here are the best places to buy:<div class=”data-table”>
| Retailer | Details |
|---|---|
| Plus Plus USA | Official distributor with full range of products, bulk discounts |
| Amazon | Convenience of Prime shipping; user reviews help select best sets |
| Fat Brain Toys | Unique Plus Plus collaborations not sold elsewhere |
| Target | Affordable starter packs; often found in dollar spot seasonal displays |
| Walmart | Basics at low prices; good budget brick refills |
| Michaels | Carry core set along with seasonal collections |
| Barnes & Noble | Fun gift wrap sets around holidays; kits featured regularly |
Independent toy shops and craft stores also tend to stock best-selling Plus Plus items. With major retailers keeping popular sets in stock plus specialty dealer access to the complete catalog, it’s easy to find blocks suited to any age group or project scale.
Building Your First Plus Plus Creations
Once you have your starter pieces, it’s time for the fun part – bringing your imagination to life! Here are helpful guidelines for first-time builders:
1. Sort by Color
Pour out your Plus Plus pieces and sort them into color groups. Having similar hues close at hand makes it easier to envision color combos.
2. Start Simple
Resist complex structures right away. Begin with basic lines, stacks or grids to get a feel for how blocks connect. Simple patterns are great initial projects.
3. Mix Pieces
Combine sizes and shapes rather than only using one type of block. This showcases how forms fit together in cool ways.
4. Build Up Gradually
Stack pieces vertically, extending designs up and out from the base. Reinforce connections with additional blocks. Go slow and steady.
5. Connect Securely
Make sure nubs insert fully into holes without gaps. Wiggling blocks gently helps lock them into place securely.
6. Let Ideas Flow
Instead of expecting perfection, let freeform ideas emerge naturally. See where your wandering mind takes you!
Following instincts over rigid plans allows organic, fun constructions full of your unique personality. Embrace mistakes and dead ends – no need to build anything particular.
The pure enjoyment comes from freely exploring Plus Plus possibilities at your own pace. Wherever inspiration leads, let it spark your creativity. With an open mindset, you’ll quickly get hooked designing larger, more extravagant projects.
Creative Plus Plus Building Inspiration
Stuck on what to construct? Here are imaginative ideas spanning simple to complex builds:
[table]
| Difficulty | Build Ideas |
|---|---|
| Basic | jewelry, keychains, patterns, logos, letters |
| Intermediate | animals, vehicles, architecture, sculptures |
| Advanced | anatomical models, elaborate cityscapes, robots |
[/table]
Or take inspiration from your hobbies – recreate favorite characters from games, movies and books or model real-world objects that match your interests.
You can even mimic famous buildings, decorate your living space with artsy design pieces or craft one-of-a-kind gifts. The possibilities are endless!
Showcasing Plus Plus Creations
Part of the fun is showing off your hard work once those Plus Plus constructions are complete!
- Post photos of finished builds on social media sites like Instagram and Facebook using hashtags like #plusplusblocks #pluspluscreations #buildingblocks
- Create video tutorials on TikTok and YouTube demonstrating how you made challenging structures
- Display especially sentimental designs on shelves as decorative objects
- Take pictures for custom greeting cards celebrating holidays, birthdays or other occasions
- Give Plus Plus sculptures as unique DIY gifts personalized with recipients’ favorite colors, themes or characters
However you decide to showcase them, your imaginative block creations let family and friends appreciate your one-of-a-kind vision and artistry while spreading Plus Plus inspiration.
Tips for Expanding Your Collection
Once the Plus Plus bug bites, you’ll likely catch “brick fever” – the urge to expand piece variety for bigger and better builds. Here are handy tips for affordably increasing your overall collection:
- Seek out Plus Plus value packs for the lowest cost per piece
- Mix & match affordable mini Creative Tubs for variety
- Peruse seller clearance sections for discounted sets
- Split bulk orders with friends to reduce individual spend
- Redeem loyalty rewards, coupons and promo codes at major retailers
- Sign up for newsletters to receive members-only sale alerts
- Buy refill packs in neutral colors to supplement existing sets
Saving upfront by piecing together your stash over time often works out cheaper in the long run. This lets you accumulate enough shapes, sizes and hues for the ultimate custom building experience.
Inspiring Young Builders with Plus Plus
Exposing children to open-ended toys like Plus Plus boosts creativity from an early age while making playtime more delightful. Parents and teachers can foster a lifelong love of building using these tips:
- Start toddlers with large, basic pieces to develop fine motor skills through simple patterning
- Guide preschoolers into constructing objects they know like animals, vehicles or buildings
- Encourage elementary students to plan color schemes and make decorative art pieces for their rooms
- Motivate tweens and teens to tackle more complex sculptures, mazes, pixel art and beyond
- Emphasize the enjoyment of freely exploring over any “right” way to build
- Ask open-ended questions about youngsters’ works-in-progress to stretch their thinking
- Display children’s completed Plus Plus creations prominently to boost pride and self-confidence
By nurturing imagination and perseverance, Plus Plus blocks give kids of all ages a screen-free activity that makes learning delightful while unleashing creativity.
Final Takeaways
Plus Plus blocks win over dedicated fans of all ages thanks to the unlimited creative potential housed in just a handful of colorful pieces. These versatile plastic blocks foster open-ended play that builds key developmental skills in an engaging, hands-on way.
With such little investment, Plus Plus unlocks big learning and fun. Anyone from tiny toddlers to trained architects can construct totally unique works of art that provide an outlet to destress while flexing creative muscles.
So why not tap into your inner child, break out some vibrant blocks and see what imaginative designs take shape? Plus Plus makes it easy to rediscover forgotten creative confidence. Where will those little nubs and holes take you? With Plus Plus, the sky’s the limit – now get building!
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of Plus Plus sets are good for beginners?
The best Plus Plus sets for beginners focus on the basic shapes in primary colors. Look for starter packs with squares, circles, triangles, and rectangles in versatile hues like red, blue, yellow, black and white. These allow you to gain confidence before moving onto more complex pieces.
How can I use Plus Plus blocks for speech therapy?
Speech-language pathologists often use Plus Plus in articulation therapy by having patients construct objects that incorporate target speech sounds. Building the words helps anchor proper pronunciation. Plus Plus also assists with vocabulary building, descriptive language, sentence formulation, and sequencing abilities.
What motor skills do Plus Plus blocks improve?
The act of connecting Plus Plus blocks enhances fine motor skills, coordination between hands and eyes, dexterity of fingers and hands, grip strength, and bilateral coordination. The manipulative play trains muscles, reflexes and hand-eye coordination crucial for tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, using utensils, and more.
Can Plus Plus blocks help children with special needs?
Plus Plus blocks serve as excellent therapeutic tools for certain conditions. The cause-effect relationship of fitting pieces together assists those with behavioral issues. Plus Plus also benefits children with autism, ADHD or anxiety by improving focus, flexibility, motor control and social/communication abilities in a predictable, engaging way.
Where can I find Plus Plus lesson plans for school use?
Many teachers on sites like Teachers Pay Teachers offer Plus Plus-themed packs with materials like activity ideas, paper templates, visual aids and illustrated instruction manuals. Adapt these resources or use for inspiration planning math, art, engineering, science or social lessons incorporating Plus Plus to hit core curriculum standards