These Made in the USA easy-to-handle playful planks and connectors are appealing to the eye, the touch and both left and right sides of the brain. The three and four way connectors work at any angle, and the motion connectors allow designs to rotate.

One design that began as a house, soon became a museum, and then a demolition site for the construction crew. A "U-shaped" structure on the rug was raised to become a movie theater -- with the challenge of figuring out how to keep it stable in an upright position. The children then designed two friendly monsters (or were they elephants?) to sit and watch the "Shaun the Sheep" movie. We built a two story building and measured, cut and placed paper to make a sidewalk. We used the motion connectors to make a ladder. We added strips of poster-board to turn the ladder into a super slide and sent a variety of objects down the slide to see if they were too heavy, too light, or just right.

We talked about colors and patterns, directions and design. We played together and talked about design, teamwork, architects and blueprints. And when I asked a six year old what he was building he replied "Wait and see. You can't guess what it will be. It's a surprise for you and me!"

As children's skills develop, their Brackitz designs will become more advanced in complexity and creativity. A good investment in playful learning.