Can You Name the Most Simple Building Materials for Kids?

The power of simple building materials for kids should never be underestimated. Kids are creative and amazingly imaginative. I am always in awe of the inventions made from practically no materials!

Their developing minds are ripe for building and creating. Last week we had an unfortunate incident with marshmallows. I introduced what I thought was a brilliant and simple invitation to build. I set out a tray, a bowl of toothpicks, and a bowl of mini marshmallows.

Then this happened with the simple building materials…

With little self-regulation my 5 and, particularly, my 3.5 year old challenged me by wanting to eat most of the core simple building materials. They’d build a “cool structure” then with great joy eat their “cool structure”. Admittedly I became frustrated with my sons, or maybe with myself.

How could I expect them NOT to want to eat the marshmallows? I hated to squash their joy but I ended the activity sooner than I anticipated that afternoon. That evening I was determined to conjure up better, simple building materials for kids (at least my kids), edible or not. Here is the list I generated from my brainstorm.

Simple Building Materials for Kids

Edible Simple Building Materials

• Grapes (check out this great building activity using grapes from The Artful Parent)
• Raisins
• Cheese cubes
• Beans (soaks overnight)
• Gumdrops like this fun building activity over at Tinkerlab

Non-Edible Simple Building Materials

• Playdough
• Mini Corks
• Mini Styrofoam Cubes
• Soap (Glycerine Transparent Soap works well. I love this Soap Sculpture from The Artful Parent!)

Create the Invitation to Build with Simple Building Materials

• Simple Tray (to create a workspace)
• Toothpicks (from your kitchen)
• Building material (any one of the above, or dream up one of your own)

For further engineering learning, check out this post The BEST Books for Little Architects