Testing PERFECT building blocks at preschool
Before the instructions for the PERFECT line were created, we spent two long weeks testing the blocks ourselves. The entire Mammutico team was involved in creative play, followed by a photo shoot documenting the step-by-step construction process, which was included in the manual.
During those fourteen days, we came up with a ton of interesting ideas. Choosing which structures to include was incredibly difficult for that reason, but in the end, we created a guide with thirty instructions of varying difficulty levels. However, this was not the final stage of creating the instructions. We decided that since this is a product for children, we should test it with their help.
“Children learn through play—it’s not a cliché, it’s science.” — Dr. Anna Kowalska, educator
We invited two institutions to participate in the instruction manual testing project. One of them was the Caritas Social Therapy Day Center of the Archdiocese of Warsaw, located on Okopowa Street. We have included the feedback and a report from this stage in a separate article.
Reactions from children and teachers
The first group to receive our instructions and start playing with PERFECT blocks were five- and six-year-olds from the “Jedynka” private preschool in Pruszków. The pilot project lasted a month, during summer workshops with the blocks organized by the teachers at “Jedynka.”
Each caregiver received their own copy of the instructions with space for notes. At our request, the activities focused mainly on building the structures shown in the instructions. We wanted to know how the kids handled larger structures, what caused them problems, and whether the construction steps were clearly illustrated. The quality of the individual instructions was also evaluated, as some of them, despite their complexity, do not provide very detailed steps for adding blocks (as, for example, LEGO does). Some are even depicted as a single drawing, which requires the builder to use their spatial imagination and immense concentration.
In addition to the structured activity program with instructions, the children also had time for free play with the large bricks. The insights from this part of the session were also a learning experience and source of inspiration for us.
Feedback from the preschool teachers
The first and most important feedback we received from the teachers at “Jedynka” preschool was that the children LOVED the blocks. We also learned that:
– to take full advantage of the blocks’ capabilities (connecting, twisting, bending), it was necessary to demonstrate them at the beginning. Younger children were unable to focus on the introduction and the presentation on the first page of the workbook, often skipping it entirely,
– building larger structures took so much time that it sometimes took more than one class period. During that time, the less patient kids started to get bored and moved on to playing on their own,
– The children could choose which structures to build on their own. They liked spectacular designs the most, such as a sphere, an igloo, or a train. The Palace of Culture was also interesting, as everyone was familiar with the building and wanted to participate in recreating it,
How to use PERFECT in a group?
– Structures intended for later play, such as a car or a scooter, were also very popular. After building them, the children wanted to use the pieces for regular play, so there wasn’t much time left for the next structures (which is worth considering when planning activities),
– Instructions with less detailed construction steps were too difficult for preschoolers unless they received appropriate guidance from the teacher,
– free play was very appealing to the children, although none of their constructions were as advanced as those in the instructions. The children constructed the frames of various objects without using the options to bend, twist, or connect using small rectangular fillers.
Summary and conclusions after testing the large PERFECT blocks
Perfect blocks are workshop sets. Before children can begin to utilize all the interesting possibilities offered by the shape and flexible material, they need time to familiarize themselves with the product. If the workshops are one-time events, it is essential to conduct a brief presentation at the beginning of the session.
Recurring sessions with large Perfect blocks will allow participants to focus on the activity of building structures without time pressure. The ideal solution would be the option to leave an unfinished structure for the next session.
Using instructions significantly enhances the development of spatial imagination while providing an appropriate amount of physical activity.
Blocks with instructions are ideal for the oldest preschool groups and in elementary school after-school programs. Building with instructions is engaging and can fully occupy the free time older children spend in the after-school program. The desire to build is amplified by the size of the structure, which is a very attractive element of the play. The whole experience combines into creative play full of challenges and the right amount of physical activity—everything needed to spend after-school time in an interesting and meaningful way.
Mammutico® — a tool that grows with your child.
