2025 Gift Guide for Kids who Love Block Play

Welcome to the Everyday with E and J gift guide for kids who love block play! This isn't a regular old gift guide, instead of listing stuff across all different random categories that your kids might like, this list is purely made up of toys that either enhance block play or can be made more fun by using them alongside blocks. Every item on this list is tried and tested by my own family as well in classrooms I've had the joy of working in or with over the years.

I'll split the recommendations in this guide into 2 categories - accessory block sets which are block sets that you can add on to your collection to enhance play, and block play accessory toys which are toys which might not be directly block related but are super fun additions to open ended building play.

If you read last year's Gift Guide for Kids who Love Block Play you'll notice some things are back again this year - they're still awesome. Plus you'll see some new recommendations!

Many of the links you'll find in this gift guide are affiliate links which means that if you shop through them I sometimes make a small commission. Thanks for using my links. It's a really easy way for you to support all of the free content I share without actually costing you any extra dollars. I've also included discount codes for you wherever possible!

Ready to play? Let's go.

Accessory Block Sets

Little bricks

Little Bricks are SO GOOD. They are one of those toys that seem cool already and then get even cooler when you get to see them in real life. These tiny bricks are made of smooth plastic on the outside but are weighted internally to give the feeling of real brick play. Could not recommend these more.

Little Pavers

If you like little bricks, little pavers should be next on your list. They're a great shape to add to building play and the dimensions work perfectly with little bricks - SO FUN together!

Castle Blocks

The castle block sets from Plan Toys combine some basic unit block shapes with a few really special accessories that are also unit-aligned. In particular my kids love the turrets that come in these sets. They're molded from "plan wood" and fit perfectly on top of a unit block cylinder! Such a special and fun addition to block play!

Architecture Blocks

These are a great addition to unit block play for children who are interested in castles or other more detailed architecture. The pieces come in a huge variety and are so unique, but they're also perfectly unit block aligned. Hooray!

Rainbow blocks

Rainbow blocks are unit block size but colorful! The colored panels allow light to pass through so they’re great as windows in buildings and add some really beautiful detail especially on a sunny day. To be totally clear these blocks are ALMOST perfectly unit aligned, the length and width aligns but the depth is a few millimeters off.  This is something Guidecraft is currently working to fix, but for now they're still worth adding to your collection - the depth imperfection doesn't effect builds when these are used like windows (as intended).

Guidecraft mini hollow blocks

Mini hollow blocks are perfectly aligned with unit blocks - the smallest blocks are actually the exact same size as a unit, just hollow, while the largest ones and like extra thick big doubles! The ramps are my kids' favorite bits! These are pretty light weight and very easy for young children to move around. If you’re looking for a heavier version check out the Constructive Playthings junior hollow blocks I recommend below. 

Constructive playthings junior hollow blocks

The junior hollow blocks from Constructive Playthings are a very high quality set. Like the Guidecraft mini hollow blocks this set is completely compatible with unit blocks. It differs from the GC set in what pieces are included. Most notably - this set includes 2 hollow block quads which are very cool. The Constructive Playthings junior hollow blocks are heavy and solid and I wouldn’t worry at all about kids using them for climbing. 

Arches and tunnels

If your kids like building small worlds for vehicles these are going to be a hit. This set is so fun for building big, strong tunnels, plus they're made to work perfectly with unit blocks - the narrow arches are the depth of a single unit and the larger tunnels are the depth of a double unit block. 

Guidecraft recently came out with a rainbow Arch and tunnel set that is the same dimensions as the wooden ones but is a really fun way to add some color!

The other stackers in the discovery line (arch stacker, house stacker, tall arch stacker) are also the same width as a unit block - so they're a fun way to add color to unit block play too!

Unit block marble run

This is the only marble/ball run I ever recommend. It's perfect for kids who love block play because it pushes them to use the unit block system to problem solve in a new way. It's super user friendly and even when we first got this set around J's 3rd birthday, he was able to use it independently in simple age appropriate ways. Highly recommend.

Block Play Accessory Toys

Battery Operated Lights

Especially in the dark days of winter I love to offer ways for my kids to add light to their block play. These gumdrop lights are a new favorite! Kids find the COOLEST ways to play with these!  If you'd like something more simple go for LED tea lights! They're also perfect for gloomy day play!

Tiny Animal Collections

You can grab animals like these ducks in sets of 36-200 for around $9-$12, and while that may feel like A LOT of ducks - you'll be amazed by what your kids do with a material like these when they have so many! Having a lot of something really changes how kids play with it! Especially if you have a child who loves tiny creatures - trust me on this one. I added a few different options (tested by J) to my block play list on amazon.

Doll house people

People figures are a great block play accessory. It’s especially fun to add a family to your block play area that resembles your own family and friends. This can help children play out real life experiences that they’re still making sense of. Of course in addition its fantastic to include people who look different from your children to help represent the greater world! Hooray for social emotional learning through play! I love Plan Toys people for this reason - you can buy the people individually to build a family that fits your needs perfectly.

Cars and trucks

My kids can play with cars and trucks pretty much non-stop and vehicles are absolutely a huge point of interest for block play. Keep it simple and grab realistic cars and trucks from hot wheels or matchbox or grab some wooden versions from candylab or plantoys. These all work so well with blocks! I put a bunch of options on my amazon block play idea list. 

Roadway system

These wooden roadways are SUPER easy for kids to put together independently - super low frustration and I love that. They are also nicely compatible with unit blocks - a perfect width, and work so well if your kids like hot wheels cars! We've had other roadway systems but these have been my kids' favorite for years and years.

Nature & Landscape Accessories

Add accessories like wooden rocks and stones, trees, mushrooms, and other natural items to your child's play if they like to build small worlds! We love these rainbow trees from Chickadees Wooden Toys, as well as these wooden river stones and branch blocks from Guidecraft for adding natural details to play!

Animal figurines

If your kids like animals, adding animal figurines to your block play can be a great point of interest. With accessories like these your kids might build jungles, farms, zoos, or other kinds of animal homes! Our favorite animal figurines are from Schleich and Safari ltd. 

Character figurines

This one might be a bit controversial, but favorite character figurines are FANTASTIC points of interest for block play! By inviting these characters into block play your child has the chance to build little worlds they love on their own with blocks! For hesitant builders this can be a total game changer! 

Play silks

One of our favorite open ended toys - play silks! You can’t go wrong with adding these to your play space. We started with just a green and blue mini silk to use as grass and water in block play and have grown our collection over time. They are used daily! 

Giant dump truck

Any dump truck works, but this is our favorite for big block play because it is so big and sturdy and heavy duty! It can carry A LOT of blocks and when my kids are in construction mode it’s used non-stop. It is also super well loved for block clean up! 

Here's an amazon list with a bunch more ideas for block play accessories!

Thanks for reading this year's Everyday with E and J gift guide for kids who love block play. I hope you found something fun for the block lover in your life. If you found this post helpful please consider sharing it on social media! And if you have a question that wasn't answered here please comment on this post or send me a message on instagram! I'll be super happy to help you find the perfect block adjacent gift for your kids!

About Sami

Sami is a homeschooling mom and progressive educator with a special interest in learning through block play! She has her masters of science in childhood and early childhood education and taught in progressive education classrooms for over 10 years before leaving to stay home with her kids so she has had lots of experience observing and facilitating block play. Now she spends her time working as an educational consultant and working virtually with families and educators to help them support block play and other play based learning in their homes and classrooms. Find her on instagram @EverydayWithEandJ