The Most Versatile Toy We’ve Ever Owned (I’d Buy It Again in a Heartbeat!)

When I was little, my dad — who was the super in our building — once had to get a new refrigerator for a tenant. He gave my sisters and me the giant cardboard box afterward, and it turned into one of the most magical moments of my childhood. With nothing but our imaginations, we transformed that box into a treehouse, a classroom, and a bodega. (Can you tell I’m from New York?)

It’s one of my fondest memories — and I’m pretty sure it sparked my lifelong love of creative expression.

When I became a mom, I wanted to re-create that kind of open-ended wonder for my kids. That’s what led me to invest in a set of Notch Blocks, large interlocking planks that can be built into forts, stairs, and other structures. Think: Lincoln Logs meets life-size fort-building.

Over the past four years, I’ve found they’re much more than just materials for pretend play — they’re among the most versatile and enduring toys we’ve ever owned. Here’s why.

We’ve turned Notch blocks into just about everything: a tabletop perfectly sized to hold an IKEA Trofast bin, the base that turns our wobble board into a slide, balance beams stretched across the floor, staircases, tunnels, forts, dollhouses, aquariums, train stations, farms … you name it. They’re endlessly adaptable.

For the most part, I’ve been the one building the structures. But now that my kids are older and playing more collaboratively, they’re beginning to take the lead. And even before they were building, they were constantly reimagining.

One of my favorite memories is the time I carefully set up an elaborate, dreamy dollhouse — and after a minute of polite interest, my twins turned it into a car and “drove” each other around the city for the next 20 minutes.

As much as I love looking back at all the ways we’ve used these blocks — and scrolling through the beautiful moments I’ve captured — it’s their lasting impact that makes me recommend them most.

These blocks don’t just build structures — they build confidence, resilience, and the tolerance to keep trying.

When something collapses (and it will), my kids help me rebuild — because they’ve had the chance to practice. When a slide tips or a wall wobbles, we troubleshoot together. I’ve added hidden supports or safety catches here and there, but I step back as much as possible. I want them to experience trial and error, take calculated risks, and learn what works and what doesn’t.

That learning isn’t just physical — it’s emotional. They’re building trust in themselves, in each other, and in the idea that mistakes are part of the process. One balances while the other spots; one suggests while the other negotiates.

It’s physical play, yes — but also collaborative, flexible, and brave. These blocks are helping my kids build the kind of strength and resilience that lasts.

I live in a small New York City apartment, so I don’t have the luxury of a basement or a dedicated playroom. Everything in our home has to earn its footprint — and these blocks absolutely do. We used to store them on the bottom level of a bookcase; now that we have two sets, they live neatly on IKEA shelves.

When we pull them out, they transform the entire room into a whole new world. And they’re made from smooth, calming wood — just the kind Waldorf educators praise for grounding kids in the beauty and warmth of the natural world.

But here’s the thing: I’d still love them, even in a much larger home. The ability to build something big, imaginative, and immersive — and then tuck it all away without tools, stress, or visual clutter — is a gift, no matter your square footage.

These blocks aren’t just easy to store — they’re easy to live with.

Yes, Notch Blocks are a pricey investment. But when I think about how many hours of screen-free play they’ve sparked — how many sibling collaborations, how many cardboard-box moments they’ve re-created — I’d buy them again in a heartbeat.

And the proof? I just did. We now have two sets.

Buy it: Notch Blocks, $569.95 for 89-piece set