LaQ - made for creative kids, made for making!

Have you heard of LaQ? We loooooove it!

We have been long term LaQ fans since discovering it by chance at a Japanese toy 'pop up shop' in a shopping centre, about six years ago! Lily sat down and was instantly entranced, connecting up all kinds of shapes with her teeny little fingers. I loved the fine motor aspect and how engaged she was, so we ended up buying a small kit. It's been a well loved open-ended toy in our home ever since!

Recently, a lovely little small business called Smarty Pants Toys reached out to me - I guess they heard that we were big LaQ fans :) They kindly offered to send us some new LaQ - what a treat! The more you have the more you can create, so we were very grateful. I am thrilled to partner with them as I think it is a top quality construction toy that I really think serves as a worthwhile ‘investment buy’ for families. 

So what is LaQ exactly?  It's a series of seven small plastic shapes (triangles, squares and joiner pieces) in 12 bright colours, that click together horizontally to create pretty much whatever you like, whether 2D or 3D or even spherical! The pieces join together in the most satisfying little 'click' and then are easily separated by bending till they 'snap' and come apart. I think this is part of the pleasure of building with LaQ - the sensory satisfaction! They are really fun to build and create with... and just engage children in a really beautiful way, unleashing all sorts of creativity with infinite design possibilities! My kids just love squirreling themselves away to make their LaQ creations as I have recorded many times on this little blog, such as here – this one was five years ago, and look how tiny the kids are!!

LaQ are sort of like Lego. Like Lego, you can build kits or just free build. With Lego you generally only build 3D tower/vertical shapes, but with LaQ you can get really creative by connecting the pieces horizontally to make 2D (flat) images or fully 3D curved and angular shapes - it's flat and flexible. LaQ are so fun to snap and click together and apart - unlike the agony of prising apart two Lego blocks with your fingernails, haha ;) We love and play with both, but I have to say that LaQ has that Japanese quirkiness and ingenuity that I just love!

LaQ has so many benefits apart from just the pure fun! 

As mentioned, LaQ has fantastic sensory input - the click and snap is sooooo satisfying and really helps even the youngest users understand when the pieces are securely attached. It makes it an enjoyable breeze to build and rebuild and I think the added sensory input really engages kids. For kids who struggle to focus (as mine do at times!), LaQ is a great way to settle them down and draw them in with a focused fine motor task.

Educationally, LaQ are excellent for developing planning skills when following the easy-to-use instruction guides, and encouraging creativity when free-building. I also love seeing the kids use their maths skills (unaware!), through counting and sorting the pieces and calculating what is required to build whatever they choose. Learning through play is so beneficial and with LaQ you really see that in action! It is like seeing mini-engineers at work - the perfect STEM toy 😊 The wheels and axels means the kids can play with what they build, not just make display pieces too! LaQ develops spatial ability, concentration, fine motor skills and more, all while engaging both left and right brain. It really is a clever but simple toy – seven parts and endless possibilities!

Other educational benefits come in when building flat (2D) shapes. My son had the idea to start creating numerals from one to ten, which is a great way to work on numeracy and literacy in a hands-on way (which we all know helps information sink in deeper!). My kids also like making patterns and mosaics out of the colours which is another rich learning activity.

I am very selective about the products I endorse on this little blog of mine, because I know you guys trust me to only recommend things I genuinely like. Well, we have had LaQ in our home for over 6 years and I still think it is a winner!

If you are looking for a toy with a difference for an upcoming gift, why not invest in something that is open-ended and allows for endless learning and creativity. I don't think you can go wrong with LaQ! It takes construction to a whole new level of fun! Find out more here. 

Ok, now here is a truck load of photos, taken over the last few weeks as my kids have returned to our new LaQ set again and again to make a range of creations 😊  

One box that can create all of this!!!

Reading the easy-to-follow instructions before starting to create!

Love seeing little hands reaching into a massive pile of LaQ!

Miles busy creating a little truck, all out of his own imagination!

Counting and sorting... when maths looks like (and feels like).. play!

Is there anything more precious than these moments? Father and son, building together!

On a mission to make a huge robot!

This creative girl doesn't need a plan. She loves to build according to her own vision! Love to see her create.

Love the 'to scale' diagrams that make it so easy to follow!

Grubby fingernails and creative kids! Made his own little truck and was very pleased with himself :)

A salad sandwich!

He was very pleased with his bicycle!

This amazing robot!!! It took a lot of combined effort from the boys of the family but how cool is he? Worth it :) The arms and legs move and the head swivels! Such a cute little guy, we are in love and never want to dismantle him.

I feel like this is the kind of toy that would come to life in Toy Storey 4, huh???

Our Princess made a (quirky) tiara! 

This post was kindly sponsored by Smarty Pants Toys. All opinions are very much my own! 

exploring light and colour with rainbow blocks

My little sidekick, Miles, and I have gotten into a bit of a routine on days when the older two kids are in school. After breakfast, chores and independent play is done, we spend a little time playing by the front window, soaking up some togetherness along with the wintery sunshine!

Side note: Have I mentioned lately how much I love two year olds!? They are the most fascinating little creatures, I'm so grateful to have a bit of one-on-one time to just chat, play and watch this litle man explore the world!

Miles has always been hugely into any kind of block and building play, so when I was given the opportunity to try out these gorgeous Rainbow Sound Blocks from Finlee and Me, I jumped at the chance, knowing my little man would be alllll over them.  I must admit I have been very eager to add these particular blocks to our block collection too as they tick every box for me - open ended play, sensory experience, natural materials! Plus, you know....just soooooo preeeeetty with all the colours!! :)

And as you can see, he sure did love them...

Eager to investigate this amazing wooden 'box' the blocks come in...

Quick to unpack, and start building!

Naming shapes and colours as we stack...

He sat quietly for sooooo long, just stacking, sorting and and moving them around :)
The smooth, raw wood finish just makes you want to keep touching the blocks!

...and it was all yellow orange!!

Each block has a variety of small or large beads inside. Of course, Miles had to give each one 'the shake test' to check out what sound they made. 

Just a teensy bit obsessed with the hinge at the top of the box! 'Snap, snap'

'Building a House!'  (A toddler's work is never done, you know)

Of course, the best bit... looking at the sweet sunshine pouring through the blocks and reflecting on the carpet! Miles was so intrigued at this mysterious occurrence, he kept touching the coloured reflections while we named all the colours.

'n'Orange!' 

I am a huge fan of block-play for kids. Any opportunity for open-ended play is such a valuable thing for children, especially when it includes a sensory experience too. These blocks definitely fit the bill - beautifully textural raw wood, a variety of sounds to experience when they shake them, and the gorgeous colours to look through and experiment with reflection and light. The thing I love about blocks like these is they are an investment in years of quality play.... as evidenced by my four and six year old who couldn't wait to get their hands on them too!


If play is the work of childhood, then building with blocks is not a bad job :)

This post was sponsored by Finlee and Me, a lovely online store filled with a vast range of goodies for babies, kids and even Mums! All opinions are 100% my own. 

40/52 - from the flowers at floriade to the veggie patch at home...

Lily

It's been all about the garden lately. Spring has sprung in it's full glory and we have been busily planting the veggie patch and clearing our mammoth garden in every spare moment we can scrape out (not that many moments - things are still generally an overgrown mess!!!). 

We are excited to attempt a proper veggie patch this spring/summer. The kids each chose something to plant, and Lily, out of everything on offer, chose brown onions. Yes. 'They are good for BBQ's' she said, haha!

A little garden fairy, not afraid to get a little grubby.

Eli

Too cool for school - but not for Floriade.

The kids all got a free pair of sunnies when our tribe and Mark's parents all visited Floriade (our annual big flower festival) on our public holiday. Eli was keen to rock out with his signature style!

We had such a lovely morning traipsing around, tiptoeing through the tulips (figuratively of course!), enjoying the sunshine. Canberra in all it's glory!

 

Miles

My little man, always with a stick in each hand, cruising amongst the crowds at Floriade.  He was walking around like he owned the place, I tell ya!

Mark

Watch out for the guy with the axe!!!

(Clearing space by hacking out an old half-dead hedge to make way for a row of raspberry and blueberry bushes.... mmmmm, I can taste those berries already!! Well, here's hoping?!)

Project 52: A portrait of my family, once a week, every week, in 2014.

More highlight from the week that was...

Box construction... working hard on making a robot.

Snuggling a snail. You never know what you might get to do at Floriade, huh?

Of course there has to be a bunch of flower photos, if you don't mind!

Sniiiiiff. He wore a little clear plastic backpack, filled with jingling coins. It made it very easy to keep track of him, as he jingled all the way around Floriade ;)

Ha. Ain't this the mantra of our era... gave me a bit of a chuckle...

The highlight of Floriade was riding the Ferris wheel with Lily and Eli and Marg. It was glorious and worth every cent... as you can tell from the kid's faces, they were enthralled and I was too! The view of the flowers and city were spectacular as well as the excitement of rotating around. We fielded a few questions from the kids about the likelihood of us falling out of our little cage - but thankfully nothing went awry!

Accidental headlock of little bro when gust of wind almost takes her hat!

Photo with my babies (iPhone) Feeling on top of the world! (iPhone) My little sunshine xx Just cos his every expression  is different and makes me laugh!! Our moment to shine, haha - an 'impropmptu' concert on the main stage, bunches of kids singing away merrily. Mark and Miles checking out the many awesome cubby houses on display. The toadstool was a big hit! A little bit of watercolour painting. These glorious Spring school holidays fill up so quick, we had to lock in one quiet 'PJ Day' for the kids to just enjoy chilling out at home, doing whatever they pleased. They pleased to paint ;) Eli wanted to literally paint the lavender :) A puppet show from Lily :) Surveying her riches....  Counting her coins.... sorting and stacking. 'Is this enough for an iPad?' 'Uhhhh, not quite.' After a blissful morning relaxing in a dear friend's porch swing, Lily came straight home and attempted to construct her own. A whirlwind of taping and knotting ensued... The original prototype needed a fair bit of tweaking before it would hang, but it was a valiant and creative first effort :) It was actually one of those tricky situations where I loved to watch her create and problem solve freely, but then had to discern how much to assist when she asked for it, even though I wanted her to feel she could tackle it herself even when she was frustrated and disheartened. We got there in the end... it's always a tricky balance, I find??

Lily spent a lot of time building this deluxe home for her beloved Lottie. It included a 'fairy wings' hook, rubbish bin, campfire, bed with pillow and all sorts of goodies. Lottie seems impressed ;)

Spiderman helps to plant the corn. His veggie choice was tomatoes this year, but was keen to help with all the veggies, my dear little sidekick!