Flockmen

Over the last few years we have been carefully taking into account the toys we offer our children. I am really keen on having as many open ended resources available to play as possible.

Open ended resources ignite a child's imagination and you will discover (quite quickly) that they hold a little ones attention much longer than a toy that is for a specific reason.

Open ended toys can be used in a number of ways so from one day to the next they may be selected for different reasons. With simple toys children can make up their own games and lead their own play and learning. The toy doesn't dictate what must happen in order for it to work. For example if a toy has a button, the child needs to press the button to operate it. It's simple and will no doubt be enjoyed but the play and learning is very limited.

Open ended toys that can be used in a variety of ways and include blocks, dolls, small world items can promote learning in many ways. Children can problem solve, experiment, create, design and imagine. Through open ended toys children develop their cognitive skills, playing with and alongside their peers helps develop social development in addition to fine motor skills.

Giving children the opportunity to explore and trial, also experience a boost in their confidence and self esteem.

The more ways a child can explore and play with a toy, the more opportunities there are for successful learning.

Aswel as open ended toys, I am also a fan of natural toys as apposed to plastic. Natural materials make the perfect resource for when children are developing imaginative and critical thinking skills. 

Today I would like to share with you a resource we have found limitless when it comes to play in our household. Flockmen! With over 30,000 packs sold world wide, this family run business really does offer a quality resource with endless possibilities. 

When I received our pack of Flockmen I didn't want to interfere at all with my daughter discovering them. I cleared the table for her and literally left them sitting there in the bag for her to find. I wanted to see what her 4 year old imagination would do with them. I wanted to show her nothing.

This would give me an insight to her creativity and her thought processes.

She began by getting them out one by one and standing them side by side in a line. When she reached the end of the table she began to carefully stack, slotting them together! 

It wasn't long before she made a pretty impressive structure. I observed her concentrating to use precise co-ordination and I particularly loved how she turned around excitedly to share with me what she had worked hard to create.  

She poked at them and laughed as they came crashing down onto the table. She lined them back up again and as the sun broke through the clouds and came shining down onto her table she started to build a tower! She reached 10 before it came tumbling down. This brought out her competitive side and she worked hard to try and beat her score of 10!

She then started to order them to create shapes from the view above. She has been learning shapes at Nursery so it was great to see her using what she had learnt in her play! This gave me the knowledge that the shapes she had created were securely learnt.

After school she returned to them again and carried on her imaginative play. Out came the playdough. The Flockmen were given features and sunk into the dough to make impressions! Her imagination was well away as she made up scenarios and characters. It was lovely hearing and seeing her lost in her play. She used them along with her loose parts too!




My most favourite way she used them was once the twins were tucked up in bed and it got dark. She began making some towers and structures and she asked for the torch.... I was rather impressed that at 4 years old she initiated this cause and effect activity!
She had fun moving forwards and backwards with the torch and watching the Flockmen shrink and grow!




We also used them at the craft table and she enjoyed painting them using acrylic paints! She invited me to join her and together we painted a set of different colours to enjoy as part of rainbow activities or colour matching and sorting.



Flockmen really do provide a tool with endless play opportunities. They arrive in a strong stringed bag, perfect for storage. Made from solid oak wood these sculpted wooden blocks are designed to grow with your children.

On their website there is a plethora of ways to play with these open ended toys and some fabulous printables. You can print out outfits to dress your Flockmen, structure puzzles to attempt and building challenge cards!

Have you got a set of Flockmen? We would love to see what your children have been making and creating with them! I look forward to sharing lots more adventures with these Flockmen with you over the coming months!

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