The Playroom: Gear Up for the Grandkids    

Build a Fort

While I’m a fan of most Lakeshore products, this one’s a real winner. The Ultimate Fort Builder is an assortment of durable poles and kid-friendly connectors to create and build, providing hours of fun. You can even throw a blanket over the top for the full fort experience (with Savta’s permission, of course!). (Ask your LOR to what extent building is allowed on Shabbos and Yom Tov.)

The Ultimate Fort Builder / Lakeshore Learning

Think Big, Build Bigger

These wooden blocks by Kapla are an oldie but goodie. With their practically infinite lifespan, these durable planks are made to withstand the absolute roughest play. The guidebook included gives ideas for different constructions, and you can also team up the grandkids to compete for the tallest tower, spiral, pyramid, etc. As with most building toys, the more pieces the merrier — though these are rather pricey, so you may want to “build” your collection over time. While these can come in assorted colors, the standard set is the best value for the price.

KAPLA Wooden Construction kit 200 Bricks / KAPLA, Amazon

Creativity on a Roll

This is an absolute favorite at my mother’s home! The Marble Run by Picasso Tiles comes with an assortment of magnetic tiles, tubes, pipes, and marbles to encourage creative building and design. This set is compatible with most magnetic tile brands, in case you’d like additional pieces to help with the structure of your build (I’d stick with the Picasso Tiles brand — they’re the best magnetic tile knock-off on the market). I’d suggest at least the 100-piece set for ample play. While all ages can get involved, bring in at least one eight-and-up for when construction gets tricky.

PicassoTiles 100pc Magnetic Marble Run Set / PicassoTiles, Amazon