Wooden blocks are wonderful learning toys for kids. Wooden blocks can come in all different shapes and sizes and can be very easily homemade. My 3 year old absolutely loves playing with blocks right now, so we decided to make him some wooden blocks for outdoors.
We had to take down a tree last spring, so we (and by we I mean my husband) carefully cut and stacked the wood to dry because we (and by we I mean me) wanted to use this tree to make wooden blocks.
The wood was finally dry enough that it was ready yesterday, so we got to chopping! I had thought we would use a handsaw, but after a moment or two decided the chainsaw was the way to go. Here is how we made our wooden blocks:
1. Find/Scavenge/Steal (um … never mind the last one) an old cut down tree or old logs or branches.
2. Allow to dry for awhile. I really don’t know how long is needed. I quickly realized my husband was delaying the cutting process – so I am not sure how long he held me off for unnecessarily.
3. Cut the branches/tree/logs into 2 or 3 inch pieces. This can be down with a handsaw (if you have hours and hours – oh right – you have kids too – so …) a chainsaw is much faster. I am afraid of chainsaws, so my hubby did this step. I really should get braver – I just think how often I cut myself with a kitchen knife ….
4. Sand the edges (optional). I intended on doing this, but the edges were really not too rough. No real risk of splinters or cuts. We started and I think did 2.
5. Wax (optional). You can put a natural beeswax on your blocks to seal them, if you are so inclined.
And then let the learning begin! Within the first day our wooden blocks were:
Castles
Towers
Trees
stepping stones
sorted by size
A Bridge
I commented on how the bridge looked a bit like an animal, and my creative Madeline turned it into a frog:
Animals
And we have only just begun! Wooden blocks are an excellent way to reuse nature and help bring natural toys to your child’s work.
Making these wooden blocks was so easy! Well, actually I didn’t do anything except encourage (aka ask again and again) my husband and bring him more logs – saying each time, “just one more hunny”.
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Sandi says
September 6, 2013 at 9:38 pmI have blocks made from a tree that we had to take down in my kindergarten classroom. They are one of the most played with “toys” in the room. I did the “just one more” hunny a few times too, and think that we will need some more soon.
admin says
September 7, 2013 at 12:04 amOh – lucky Kindergarteners to have you (and your hubby!) Did you add wax or any finishing? I still haven’t and am thinking they may still hold up nicely …
Stephanie @ Twodaloo says
September 12, 2013 at 7:47 pmTree blocks are one of my favorite natural toys- so many possibilities! Thanks for the tutorial, and for linking up to Discover & Explore!
admin says
September 12, 2013 at 8:04 pmI love them too – I just saw some little branch blocks on Play Trains! So cool! The possibilities really are endless. Thanks for visiting!
Rachel | Racheous says
October 10, 2013 at 9:53 pmAbsolutely gorgeous! I’m waiting on my hubby to make these out of an old fallen branch. Love the animals!
Sarah says
October 10, 2013 at 10:21 pmThank you! We have had so much fun with them!
Kierna says
October 25, 2013 at 3:32 pmLove that you were able to reuse a tree to make such great resources for play. Thanks for joining in the outdoor play party.
Sarah says
October 25, 2013 at 10:25 pmThank you for having me at the outdoor play party!!
Faye says
January 4, 2014 at 11:23 amI was lucky (blessed) to get cut pieces from a tree-cutting company that was cutting down a huge tree down the street from my home. I explained to them that I had a home daycare and wanted some various-size pieces (please) to create a variety of things, i.e., blocks, stumps for sitting, etc. Not only did they say yes, but they allowed me to pick the pieces I wanted and were kind enough to deliver them to my yard.
Sarah says
January 6, 2014 at 9:07 pmThat is WONDERFUL! Good for your for asking! Goes to show it never hurts to ask – how lucky your wee ones are!
jackie says
May 10, 2014 at 7:26 amOh, I love these, Sarah! There’s so much learning going on here!
Phillius Thomas says
June 22, 2015 at 10:13 amThis seems a fun thing to do with trimmed branches! After you trim, just make disks and stuff to play with. I like that you made a pig.
Sarah says
June 24, 2015 at 1:43 pmYou are so right Phillius – nice and simple and loads of fun! Thanks for taking the time to comment
Gus Chiggins says
July 8, 2015 at 3:38 pmCutting up your old tree, and using it to make blocks is a great idea! Making different shapes, and animals with it is fun and interactive. I am thinking about cutting down a tree in my yard soon. Perhaps this would be a viable way to use the wood when I’m done.
Sarah says
July 8, 2015 at 7:38 pmIt certainly “wood” be Gus 😉 Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment. Good luck with cutting your tree.
Ruth says
November 10, 2020 at 3:59 pmOur neighborhood lost a lot of trees in the last hurricane. I’ve looked at blocks like this for years and wished for them but felt stupid *buying* them. I mentioned to my husband that it is a pity that all that wood is going to go to the dump when it could be turned into blocks. He OFFERED to buy a saw to cut them with! I will hope that his enthusiasm for the new tool means that we will have blocks by Christmas.
Sarah says
November 11, 2020 at 9:57 pmI am so sorry to hear about your neighborhood. I hope your home was not damaged and everyone is safe. What a great way to repurpose those trees though – I love your outside of the box thinking