Tegu blocks-magical fun for kids & grownups

I’ve always had a love affair with blocks.

When our kids were small, in addition to a huge box of plain wooden and brightly colored blocks, we bought sets of the first Legos which were an incredible novelty then because they locked in place so even a small child could build straight! Our grandkids still pull these out on almost every visit and I often join them on the floor.

Here’s the original set which I believe was purchased about 1972! (By the way, I had these and our other “antique” blocks tested for lead and other various yuckies and they came out clean. To see what’s up with current Legos, take a look here.)

My passion for blocks was reawakened last year when I came across some with a twist from Tegu. The twist is that they have magnets embedded in them, which makes them magical to kids! (OK, and me too.)

Additionally, unlike Legos, they are sustainably produced by a company headed by two brothers trying to provide kids with imaginative fun while caring for people and planet. You know we love that!

I bought a set for the grandkids last Christmas and the result was four happy children plus a bunch of hysterical adults!

First came the magic trick:

Then, Ella tried to put the blocks away!

As I said before, Tegu is a company that does its darndest to be sustainable. In most every aspect of their business, Tegu shows environmental stewardship and respect for people. The blocks are made from sustainably harvested wood, coatings are water-based, and Tegu will plant a tree when you purchase.

They admit their concern for one aspect of making the blocks- mining the magnets, but they work to ensure that at the very least, this component is sourced from responsible suppliers who treat their workers well and minimize the negative effect mining has on the environment.

The blocks come from Honduras, a long way from the U.S. But Tegu’s presences in this country is aimed at making life better for the people it employs there by “offering a true living wage (much higher than the minimum wage most factories pay production workers), unparalleled benefits and maintaining exceptional working conditions at the toy factory (health and safety, lighting, ventilation, working hours, etc).”

And assuming your kids/grandkids love their Tegus as much as ours do, divide the distance the blocks travel by the years of enjoyment and the carbon footprint decreases a bit, no?

Starting tomorrow, Wednesday, November 10, Tegu launches a unique online interactive activity that I can’t talk about until then. But it’s going to be awesome and you can participate, so come back and visit the blog tomorrow to find out what it’s about, check us out on Twitter or follow @Tegu to see what’s up.

And because they’re unique, awesome and eco-friendly in so many aspects, we carry Tegu blocks in our OpenSky shop. If you’re starting to think holidays, check them out.

Do you have fond memories of blocks from your childhood or still play with them (come on, we won’t tell)?

Lynn Colwell and Corey Colwell-Lipson are mother and daughter and authors of Celebrate Green! Creating Eco-Savvy Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions for the Whole Family, and founders of Green Halloween®.