Expert opinions

Mammutico blocks as a therapeutic aid

Mammutico™ blocks offer children all the benefits associated with playing with blocks. They spark creativity by unleashing natural creative potential and contribute to a sense of personal agency and effectiveness. They allow for free play, which is one of the fundamental elements of a child’s healthy social, emotional, and intellectual development (…).

Thanks to their large size, Mammutico blocks engage the whole body, helping to develop precision, dexterity, balance, and strength. With these blocks, children create scenarios based on their own ideas. The fun can go on endlessly, as the simplicity of the shapes allows the blocks to take on any function or meaning. It is also easy to transform one shape into a completely different one, which in turn stimulates flexible thinking.

The light weight of the individual blocks, combined with their large size and ease of connection, allows even children with motor impairments to create structures that seem to exceed their capabilities. For them, this is an excellent form of physical exercise driven by internal motivation—that is, the desire to play. That is why I believe that Mammutico blocks will also work great as an element of various forms of therapeutic activities.

Mammutico Blocks – A Must-Have for Educators

Mammutico blocks are a creative essential for educators, activity leaders, therapists, and physical therapists. Their structure, shapes, varied sizes, flexibility, and lightness offer a wide range of possibilities for constructing, building, experimenting, and manipulating with hands and the whole body indoors, in the garden, and in the pool. The ease of use of the blocks fosters a playful atmosphere that can effectively support learning or therapeutic processes (…).

The wide functionality of Mammutico blocks enables support for a child’s development in physical aspects, e.g., during corrective gymnastics; psychophysical and educational aspects—during sensory integration therapy; or social aspects—in sociotherapy and cultural therapy sessions. Mammutico™ block sets are an excellent tool for stimulating the vestibular and tactile systems of children and adolescents. With them, children can practice grasping skills, develop a sense of balance, and improve hand-eye coordination, for example by creating a special obstacle course for crawling, climbing, and jumping.

These blocks are also a great tool for sparking creativity in adult training participants and trainers alike. They work well during workshops on interpersonal communication, teamwork, team building, and team and resource management.

The loose pieces in the SIMPLE set offer endless opportunities to spark the imagination and foster a sense of accomplishment

Preschool is a place where building blocks are part of everyday life. Children always play with blocks and have always played with blocks. At the preschool where I work, we have the special pleasure of using the Mammutico blocks (the large SIMPLE set), and we truly see the great value of playing with these types of blocks every day.

At our facility, we’ve used these blocks both in the classroom and on the playground, and they’ve worked wonderfully in both settings. Despite having just three simple shapes, the kids really do all sorts of things with them. In addition to having fun, we also observed plenty of educational benefits, lots of joy, and mutual interaction. The benefits of playing with large blocks include, of course, creativity and the stimulation of spatial imagination, but also learning cooperation and communication.

The blocks were a Children’s Day gift, and our expectations were, first, that they would bring joy, and second, that they would bring younger children and preschoolers together through play. Everything worked out perfectly.

SIMPLE blocks are seemingly unrelated to one another. We usually perceive blocks as parts that can be connected, but in this case, we are dealing with loose elements that are independent of one another. This feature is incredibly valuable; it provides a vast space for developing imagination—both spatial and internal. Moreover, this kind of play gives a sense of success; there’s no room for failure here—you can always build something from these loose pieces. You can change things, add pieces, rearrange them—it’s always interesting. Precisely because these parts aren’t connected to each other, the blocks simply never get boring.

We invite you to watch the expert’s full statement:

Mammuticos are an excellent tool for working with children on the autism spectrum

Mammutico blocks are an excellent tool for working with children on the autism spectrum. They work well across a wide range of activities, making them a versatile aid for both play and learning.

First, it’s worth noting that Mammutico blocks are simply appealing—to all children, not just those with autism. The large, unique pieces evoke positive emotions, which sets a good tone for any activity in which they’re used.

When working with an autistic child, we rely on concrete objects so that the child can manipulate them. Mammutico blocks, thanks to their size, allow for the building of enormous structures. The large size of the pieces makes it very easy to create structures, so even children who have problems with motor coordination can easily build the simplest tower. The fact that the structure they create can be larger than the child themselves is an added bonus that encourages action and provides great satisfaction.

Large bricks, windows, and pillars allow for the creation of excellent obstacle courses tailored to children’s abilities. Children participate in creating the obstacles and then navigate them. This helps them develop physical fitness, bilateral coordination, as well as spatial awareness and planning. Additionally, the blocks help regulate muscle tone, and handling multiple pieces also stimulates proprioception.

Children on the autism spectrum often experience a condition called tactile hypersensitivity, in which even the gentlest tactile stimuli cause excessive emotional reactions or distraction. The material used to make the blocks is very pleasant to the touch. This makes it possible for children with tactile defensiveness to play with them—and even want to do so. It is worth noting here that all the pieces are also very safe; they have no sharp edges or grooves that could cut the skin. This is an extremely important aspect when working with children with various challenges, both physical and emotional.

Autism spectrum disorders are often perceived through the lens of a complete lack of interest in other people and withdrawal from social interactions. Nevertheless, through the repeated practice of simple social behaviors, we can present the child with models and safe strategies for appropriate behavior that will serve as examples to follow, and later as a foundation for modification and application in various situations. It is therefore worthwhile for the child to internalize as many elements of appropriate behavior as possible and “practice” them in various social and group settings. Playing with large blocks is a great tool for this type of work. It allows for building relationships within the group, strengthens its integration, and fosters the ability to play together. Depending on the scenario established by the facilitator, activities with large blocks can serve as daily practice for social skills.

Mammutico Perfect as a tool for creative building and fostering creativity

Mammuticos are a unique way for children aged 6–13 to spend their free time actively and creatively. They have a simple design, are flexible, and feel pleasant to the touch. The foam material they’re made of supports children’s sensorimotor development by regulating muscle tone and improving the precision of their movements.

Free play with large blocks supports the development of creative thinking and creativity. The blocks worked very well for both individual and group play. During individual play, the children carefully added new elements to their creations. By following the instructions, they also developed analytical skills and logical thinking through analogy.

Building with Mammutico blocks worked great in a group setting. The very act of creating a structure from non-standard blocks was an ideal opportunity for participants to freely form new relationships and learn to collaborate—discussing a plan of action and overcoming difficulties. This engaging creative activity attracted many children to join in. Thanks to this, we had the opportunity to work together and discuss the difficulties that arose in our interactions during the activity. This, in turn, allowed the children to acquire new emotional and social skills and build a positive self-image as capable and effective individuals.

Playing with “Mammutico” is extremely valuable for children with emotional difficulties. For withdrawn and shy children, the large blocks help them feel more confident by boosting their sense of competence. In turn, children with oppositional behaviors can safely release their energy using the foam blocks, which are soft and quiet.

Large blocks are multifunctional, allowing for the construction of a variety of structures. On one hand, these include, for example, places where one can take shelter, relax, and find calm; on the other, everyday objects or costume elements (shields, swords, armor). Perfect sets encourage kids to build both their own original ideas and to learn to create based on the included instructions. The children built with great focus and spontaneity, constructing truly interesting projects: towers, bases, houses, etc. The size of the pieces was very appealing to the children, as it allowed them to create structures (e.g., vehicles) larger than themselves, which served as a catalyst for further play, such as pretending to be at home or riding a scooter.

Find out how the Perfect set performed at the Caritas Archdiocese of Warsaw Social Therapy Day Care Center on Okopowa Street:

Perfect Large Blocks – enhance sensory integration, help children calm down, and relieve tension

Mammuticos are an interesting option for both younger children and more experienced and demanding teenagers. Perfect sets consist of identical pieces that can be combined in a variety of ways. The set includes a book with instructions for building specific figures. This helps children develop construction skills and spatial thinking, enhancing the left hemisphere of the brain. They can also invent their own creations, thereby expanding their creativity and imagination, which simultaneously strengthens the right hemisphere.

While playing, children improve their motor coordination and physical fitness by using their strength to fit the pieces together. Playing with the blocks allows them to temporarily relieve tension by squeezing the soft, pleasant-to-the-touch pieces. Children appreciate the flexibility of the material, which they find interesting and pleasant.

Due to the large number of pieces and the size of the blocks, it is possible to quickly build a platform on which one can simply lie down and rest. All of this can help strengthen sensory integration, which so many young people struggle with today.

The blocks are pleasant to the touch, which catches many people’s attention. They also feature colors that are easy on the eyes, combined in an interesting, contrasting way (warm yellow and gray). It’s worth remembering that yellow promotes concentration, while gray calms and soothes.

Another advantage of the blocks is that they are “quiet” during play. While more and more children complain of being overstimulated by noise (especially in school common rooms), playing with these large, lightweight blocks seems downright calming. These blocks make virtually no sound, even when a tall structure falls to the floor.

Undoubtedly, the durability of the material is also a major advantage. Our children used the Perfect blocks extensively and for a long time, yet no damage was visible on them.

It is also an interesting option for adults to spend their free time. Assembling the figures included in the instruction manual is complex enough to provide an engaging and unique challenge for people of all ages.

This product is an alternative and engaging option for group activities. With these blocks, you can practice collaboration to ultimately achieve a shared, pre-determined goal. This, in turn, makes these blocks ideal for use in social skills training and sociotherapy sessions.

Large building blocks as a tool for sensory integration therapists

Playing with large blocks Mammutico not only develops children’s construction skills but, crucially, supports sensory integration processes. These blocks are therefore ideal not only for playgrounds and playrooms but can also become an indispensable tool in therapy offices. Sensory integration is the ability to perceive, understand, and process information provided by the senses. Disorders in this area make daily life difficult. Sensory therapy is usually a fun and engaging activity for children that involves the integration of sensory stimuli. By walking on the blocks, under them, rolling around, or squeezing through them, children practice body awareness and spatial awareness. In addition, the soft foam the blocks are made of has a positive effect on the sense of touch, and the somewhat unconventional shapes ensure that play isn’t too easy, yet doesn’t pose insurmountable difficulties either. In turn, the muted colors of the Mammutico blocks do not distract the child, which helps them focus on a specific task.

Playing freely with large blocks naturally triggers motor planning, balance reactions, and coordination. While playing freely, a child unconsciously plans their actions at every stage—from determining how much effort to use to lift a block to arranging it in such a way that a structure is formed.

Playing with any blocks helps children practice concentration, as the time spent focusing on the task increases during building and planning. However, Mammutico blocks have an advantage over other blocks in that they additionally develop children’s ability to interact with other playmates.

Thanks to their large size and unique shapes, Mammutico blocks encourage even those children who usually avoid physical activity to move. The large foam pieces are so engaging that little ones are more eager than usual to join in the fun. Thus, such a creative playground is a great tool for ensuring an appropriate amount of physical activity while simultaneously helping children who are usually withdrawn and struggle to connect with peers practice their social skills.

In my opinion, foam Mammutico are an excellent way to spend time, and their benefits mean that every moment spent playing with them brings nothing but invaluable benefits to a child’s development.

Mammutico – the highlight of family gatherings

I’ve always enjoyed playing with building blocks, and I believe that, on both a small and large scale, it’s hard to find a toy that’s more educational and creative. During the numerous events and festivals organized by the MOŻESZ Association, I’ve seen just how much fun playing with Mammutico blocks is. The well-designed pieces that inspire imagination and creativity, the professional supervision of instructors, and the safety of the play ensure that we never have to complain about attendance at this attraction. And the children’s immense interest in Mammutico blocks is just an unspoken opinion worth heeding when looking for good, safe, and creative fun for the little ones.

See how our sets work out at picnics!