Helicopters. Caterpillars. A mini highway system. Yeah: When we here at Metro Parent got our hands on a set of the spiffy Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks – a neat "tinted" version, which is due at Tegu.com on Nov. 15 – we were more than excited to build and create. We immediately fell in love (and had to share the news a bit early!).
These "gravity defying" blocks, created with Honduran hardwoods and water-based finishes that are safe for the kids, are a mega-cool must-have for kids of most any age (they’re recommended for 3-plus).
If you’re not familiar with Tegu, here is a bit of background. The company was born in 2006 after co-founder Chris Haughey returned home from a trip to the Honduras. There, he was exposed to the beautiful hardwoods that the Central American country had to offer.
Haughey already had a woodworking background, so he decided to pursue his own company. With the help of his co-founder and brother Will, plus others, Tegu emerged. To boot, it’s an eco- and globally-sensitive operation: The guys help out the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa through reforestation, education and social outreach initiatives. Wow!
Now that you’ve got the basics, let’s get back to the blocks.
The upcoming "Tegu Tints" feature vibrant green, orange, turquoise, pink and yellow colors – a fun departure from the original standard wood tone (which are still available in the meantime). And, besides signature cube-shaped blocks, this 26-piece set has both long and short planks. We barely scratched the surface with our creations: Kids can put together loads of different models, make it prime for open-ended play.
While the price is a bit steep – $55 for the 26-piece set – the quality is truly heirloom-caliber and the possibilities for building are seemingly endless. Not to mention, you’re helping the world in the process. So truly, there’s no limit to what you can build!
