Block Buddies

Block Buddies - 21 blocks, 50 models to create from pattern cards

Block Buddies is one of the first pattern block activities that I bought, and it has been one of my most used and liked. It is similar to Imaginets, but without the magnetic board.

Choose a 2D pattern card and make a 3D model (flat against the table) out of the blocks. Blocks are wood, smooth and painted with bright colors. The paint has never chipped or faded, even after a lot of use. Solid quality, they have held up well. Cards are graded by difficulty into three levels, indicated by the color of border around the card.

If you have the Block Buddies in the rectangle box and are wondering if this is the same version, just different packaging, here is the breakdown:

1. Both have the exact same pieces, colors, and they are the exact same size.
2. The colors on the pieces in the square box are more vibrant.
3. The square box has 25 pattern cards, 50 challenges total, including 12 beginner puzzles, 20 intermediate puzzles, and 18 expert puzzles. 
4. The rectangle box has 38 pattern cards, 76 challenges total, including 16 level one puzzles, 20 level two puzzles, 20 level three puzzles, and 20 level four puzzles.
5. There are seven images that are found in both boxes, the rest are unique.
6. The pattern cards in the square box are much bigger and so the image is bigger too than the cards from the rectangle box. Small cards are 3 1/2 X 2 1/2 inches. Large cards are 4 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches.

Original rectangle box.

Left - Cards from square box. Right - Cards from rectangle box.

For more of this type of activity, see my post on What's in Your Therapy Box? Pattern Blocks Edition.

Try this:

• Play with and examine the pieces before starting to build from the cards. Talk about the shapes and how they will look different if you turn them in different orientations.
• Orient and place a piece for the individual if he is having difficulty. Ask him to watch as you place it, then pick it back up, flip or turn it, and give it back to him to try again.
• Ask the individual "Is that correct" if a mistake has been made and allow him to spot the error and correct. Or say "Try again" if he appears to not spot the error. Trying to build on an error, and waiting until the end to point out a mistake, may make it difficult to finish the model. If the individual cannot see or correct the mistake, perform the step above.
• Hand the individual a piece he will need in the incorrect orientation and ask him to turn it in-hand to position it for placement.
• Find all the pieces for the card ahead of time. Place only those pieces and the card in front of the child if you want to focus on a single goal, such as spatial orientation. This may decrease frustration that might be added by working on too many things at once.
• Place the first piece or two on the table if the individual needs help in starting.
• Cue the child to "look at only the yellow pieces" if he is looking for a yellow piece but does not think to look by color first and is examining each and every piece for shape.
• Start with the necessary pieces lying on the table, already in the correct orientations, for beginners. As the individual improves, choose a puzzle and then quickly turn the necessary pieces lying on the table so that they will need to be flipped and oriented.
• Work on manual dexterity, in-hand manipulation, visual discrimination, visual closure, visual form constancy, spatial relations, figure ground, eye-hand coordination, executive functioning skills, process skills, play and leisure exploration and participation

In the box: 21 blocks, 25 pattern cards (pattern on each side - 50 altogether)

If you are interested in purchasing this game or just want more information, click on the image below to go to Amazon.com