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Introducing CitiBlocs Wooden Construction Pieces
* SUMMARY CODES: SN - Special Needs ASC - Autistic Spectrum Conditions AS - Asberger syndrome
CitiBlocs raise the bar when it comes to quality and greenBusiness™. They are precision cut blocks of wood which are 100% ChildSafe™, green, crafted from renewable pine forests in Vietnam and provide an outstanding skill development medium. From pre-school to elementary school and even architecture professionals, CitiBlocs are an ideal educational toy, which is so simple in design yet is limited only by the imagination.
A Stimulating Challenge"
What makes CitiBlocs so special you may ask? I reply to that question with a question: How many toys can you buy that steadily stimulate progressive development of reasoning, problem solving, cause and effect, engineering and improvising skills? No matter what the age, sex, or native language of any individual, these life skills are an inherent need and CitiBlocs provide the experience needed to fulfill that need.
Kids need only imagination and gravity to build, stack and create their own fun with CitiBlocs. The simplistic shape and design of the blocks makes them ideal for solo play or a family fun session. Through interactive family play with these blocks, a stronger bond can be made while at the same time gaining an educational experience which never stops, even after the interactive family play ends. The further skill development which an individual gains from playing with CitiBlocs is later applied in circumstances or tasks where reasoning, problem solving, cause and effect, and improvising skills are needed most!
Building Developmental Skills And Concepts With Endless Possibilities.
Building developmental skills and Concepts with endless possibilities; the perfect definition of what CitiBlocs is all about. Just imagine that all of the pieces are the same size and shape. This stimulates creative thinking development in a way which allows anyone to take their creative design concepts and bring them to reality! A creation can be a simple train or take it to the extreme and design a complex building. A person can literally create anything they might imagine, (if you have enough pieces to complete the build), but then again you can always buy more kits to realize your goal.
CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set you have the luxury of no glue, no screws, no mess! It serves a the ideal product which mothers will appreciate especially. This is especially true in respect to young children. Designed with a very strong pine wood which is eco-friendly, durable enough to handle serious abuse from young children, and 100% ChildSafe, a mother couldn't possibly buy a better solution for her child or children to have a perfect combination of Play and Development all in one product. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set encourages development of discovery interest, independent creativity, and skill development while also crossing into disciplines of art, science, math and design.
For "special needs" or SN kids, the CitiBlocs accommodate the need safe educational development tools. When you look at the price point for many of the educational development solutions for these children, you will find yourself quick to find that CitiBlocs sweep the floor clean with the affordable price point and level of functionality they can deliver. Fun, creative play for these kids can be a whole new experience to explore with CitiBlocs.
Come One, Come All - (Unless you are under 3 years of age)
Who can play with CitiBlocs? They're actually designed for children ages 3+. Although the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set as well as the rest of the kits available are best used with teachers, church leaders, camp leaders, and local community centers where there is responsible supervision with groups. In group application the individuals will have an exciting experience of manipulating, touching, and discovery.
Okay, What's The Downside?
As with anything else in life you are always going to have a downside to the good point of a product, service, or situation...well I'm sorry but that rule doesn't apply to any of the CitiBlocs Wooden Building Sets. You are just going to have to put up with a product that does exactly what it was designed for...and then some!
 Independent Evaluator Reports
Obtaining An Independent Perspective...
In this section we will cover "CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set" from the perspectives of people qualified in the specific field associated with the product being evaluated. To accomplish that task we have called upon the assistance of two top industry professionals who know their stuff and have the credentials to prove it.
Our professional and independent evaluators have formed their own opinions from extensive analysis and produced detailed, in-depth reports connected with their study and evaluation of CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set. The information to follow is comprised of excerpts from those same reports which have been paraphrased in order to encapsulate the primary points being conveyed in each report. This approach provides completely independent perspectives in the evaluation of CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set.
PLEASE NOTE: The names of our independent evaluators are not disclosed to protect the privacy of these individuals upon their request. Their labors are provided at no charge to assist us in providing a well-balanced and qualified product evaluation summary. Their title is provided to clarify for our readers the specific type of specialist from which the information provided has been included in each product evaluation summary.
PRODUCT: CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set
Wood Design Engineer
"The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set is an open-ended construction set in which each piece has been carefully crafted to be in an identical size and shape of design. All pieces of the set have a very durable and absolutely smooth surface finish which will ensure that each piece has no sharp corners or edges and is safe for toddlers and children to explore a creative experience in building and design. The building set provides a stimulating play experience which will children and adults to push themselves out of their normal familiar daily routine and begin to use their creative imagination."
"This building set is provides an opportunity of unique play which will stimulate and develop perceptual, motor, and language skills, and scientific / mathematical thinking and awareness. It serves as a very strong catalyst to encourage children to explore their creative capabilities and begin to draw on their skill to invent unique new expressions of their personal feelings through the creations they build and also destroy."
"The building set provides a neutral foundation of organic elements from which children can build. Each child has a different learning style from another in their relational concepts formed in their design. It is unique to them yet the neutral foundation almost eliminates development of selfish pride from being able to make a comparative analysis of skills between another child and themselves."
"The materials used for the production of the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set are of the finest quality pine from a source which is easily replenished with no negative impact on ecological concerns. The pieces are comparable to Kapla Building Blocks and can easily be interchanged with them as well, although the CitiBlocks have a more affordable price point."
Chief of Recreational Therapy and Pediatric Behavioral Study
"To provide some clarification for your readers of the quotations you select to use from my evaluation report, I work extensively with SN children, many from a wide range of ASC, including AS which is common with several of the children I care for. These conditions impose a more demanding level of care and personal time needed to provide the appropriate attention a child may require.
Building sets such as the one provided for my study and evaluation enables me to perform a study with a variety of my SN children. The study will be quite useful in my therapy with the children, to monitor the response and improvement levels of their cognitive, spatial, interpersonal skills and overall developmental improvement during their recreational play."
"I selected a group of 10 different children from my group of children who I see for their recreational therapy to take part in my study. The study was conducted with each child's parent(s) or caregiver present as well. In the course of the study I discussed with the parent(s) or caregiver what differences they noticed in the behavior and skills of their child, if any. This was quite useful in the completion of my evaluation report for this product."
"The product used in the study, which I will refer to as 'CitiBlocs" served an excellent medium to use with the children due to the fact of the CitiBlocs being a product which created a level evaluation base for all of the children. This allowed for a more accurate identification of behavioral responses and developmental improvements by myself from a clinical level and the parents and caregivers in attendance."
"Over the course of my study I found that the CitiBlocs opened up their visual environment which provided each of the children a way to learn through the creation of models made with the wood planks or just basic, fundamental familiarization with each piece with strong stimulation to motor skills development. This was literally invaluable in their progressive development of critical and cognitive skills as well as a stronger encouragement of emotional expression."
"The smooth wooden surface of the CitiBlocs served as the ignition switch for each of the children to pick up the CitiBlocs and put their minds into drive on a journey of curiosity and analytical adventure of a sort. More simply put, they begin to draw upon each tactile sensation and visual stimulation which in turn caused their brain to develop analytical processes and formation of classification and relational response.
As they picked up each CitiBloc, the children all spent an extended period of time just looking at every facet of each piece then moving onto another. For the AS children, their responses were more aggressive and lacking in any logical pattern of action whereas most of the other children eventually grouped the CitiBlocs in some form of order with two of the children actually creating some course efforts of models to look at and then later destroy, repeating the same actions repeatedly.
"In my completion of the study and preparing my evaluation report, I established that there was no question of the improvement in skill levels with all of the children, some more than other obviously yet the overall results demonstrated that even the parents or caregivers noticed some skill development improvements, including their emotional demeanor in play with the CitiBlocks weighed against plush animals and other assisted recreational activities. All of the children demonstrated a sizable difference in their desire for continued play with the CitiBlocks in comparison with the other toys they were given.
The most important note of my study was with the group interactive play. There was a clearly defined difference in the emotional and other behavioral action by the children in reference to social-interaction as a group and attention level. With the other toys there was some level of demand in the group play, where one child took aggressive action against another to obtain a toy they wanted. With the CitiBlocs, there was neutral ground and no signs of preference established with three of the children actually interchanging pieces amongst themselves. with a clear reciprocal response being noted."
My evaluation results showed that each of the CitiBlocs, each movement and each action altogether with the children in their exposure to CitiBlocs, played a vital role as a one of many key elements responsible development of critical skill development with these children. There was no doubt of progressive skill growth of the children in both individual and group play environments with CitiBlocs. This was confirmed from the feedback responses from all of the parents and caregivers present as well.
The results from my study establish that the CitiBlocs appear to be suitable for improvement of developmental skills with any child whether or not an SN child. It would require a much longer period of study though, to validate and outline the full potential of influence that the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set could create with children in active play with it.
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 Consumer Hands-On Evaluation
Nothing is more powerful than hands-on experience by a consumer with a product when it is being evaluated. Based upon that fact we put every single product we evaluate at the mercy of consumers in a hands-on evaluation where anything goes. Shall we see how "CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set" was seen with consumers?
The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set was part of a consumer hands-on evaluation performed in a busy public area in the Boston, Mass. area, along with multiple other products. Having several products available for consumer evaluation all at once provides a more well balanced and unbiased evaluation of the products. Many of them had two or three copies available to provide a larger base of opportunity for consumer evaluation yet the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set held its own while also creating a challenge for our staff and volunteers. I am sure you are eager to see the results from the consumers feedback of the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set.
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The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set was quite the item to provide for consumer hands-on evaluation in a public place. Unlike our the other products we had brought, the CitiBlocs had 200 pieces to be accountable for. I recall one mother who stated that she just assumed these were "samples" which were free to take. Her position in the matter was,..."Isn't that what samples are for, to take home and show other people?"
On a brighter perspective, when you look at the situation with people trying to walk away with the CitiBlocks, this scenario delivers a message which cannot be questioned. The CitiBlocs were so popular and appealing to the evaluation participants that they would be willing to attempt to steal them just to have but a limited few. Now that is truly validating the popularity and value of this product without a doubt!
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As we videotaped the hands on experience for each participant with all of the products we had brought, the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set provided an added plus we never had expected. It was like a comedy show as we all laughed at the reactions from many of as we had to deal with the CitiBlocs growing legs shall we say. It was hilarious and made our time going over the feedback forms and video tapes an experience which was far from boring!
It was quite fascinating to look at some of the inspirational examples of creative talent waiting to blossom with some of the kids, while at the same time being intrigued over the careful analysis which some of the consumers performed as they carefully created what they envisioned as a masterpiece, only to have another person say, "What the heck is that? It's so stupid looking."
There were also those who were captivated by simply having a pile of CitiBlocs with which they simply placed them end to end in multiple lines, or kept creating piles of the CitiBlocs, tearing the piles down, and then repeating the same action again, and again. These people were absolutely overjoyed from their activity! This was such an outstanding way to demonstrate how CitiBlocs can spark the imagination of kids and adults while they have the strongest level of fun and enjoyment no matter what anyone else may say or think. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set provided an impressive as well as comical source of entertainment not just for the consumer evaluation participants, but for all of us evaluating the product as well.
In reviewing the feedback forms which the participants filled out, it was so easy to see how well it was received by the consumers. There was no question of the strongest level of response being shown as well as the highest level of FunFactor™ being expressed in a wide variety of forms. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set passed this segment of our evaluation.
 A Sampling Of Category Ratings
A small sampling of the individual category titles & rating
scores from the complete product review itself for
this product are featured here. The categories which have been selected to be
featured in this product evaluation summary for public view, specify some of
the primary points of how and why that specific rating score was reached.
- If a product is inducted, a product evaluation summary of the
complete review is published for public view.
- When a score has been assigned to a category rating, it has been through
a thorough validation process to ensure accuracy and no inflection of bias.
- If a product scores an overall category evaluation
rating average of [2] Two Stars or lower from the complete review results,
it fails the evaluation and is not inducted.
- Information for products which do not pass our evaluation is confidential
and is shared only with the company submitting the product.
The Featured Category Ratings for this Product Evaluation
Summary are listed below.
COST BENEFIT: Rating Level - [5] 
The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set demonstrated in active use by consumers, SN children, and independent evaluation reports that it influences a "substantial" level of improvement in regard to cognitive, motor, and overall critical skill development. The incredible level of play and skill development was well established and validated. Creative skills and so much more are exercised and encouraged with the active use of the product.
Many of the most important critical skills which we are most concerned about in a child's skill development are all stimulated in active play with the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set.
What has all this got to do with cost benefit? PLENTY!! When you consider that Citiblocs are made of a high quality pine which comes from a bountiful full renewable source, has a far lesser price point than many other wood compounds, and most important of all is lightweight, the cost benefit associated with Citiblocs is easily determined and validated.
There was no question in the final scoring in this evaluation category; the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set closes the doors on the competition in this evaluation category with a perfect score of [5 Stars].
DURABILITY: Rating Level - [5]
The DURABILITY level the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set was not difficult to establish. Although a limited number of "other" wooden building sets of similar nature are made with a heavier and harder wood, in virtually all probable applications of use of Citiblocs, pine has proven to be the more "preferred" material due to not only cost, but weight as well.
We pushed the Citiblocs planks to the limit in a simultaneous testing with other wooden building planks of same size and dimension. The planks from the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set matched the durability levels of the other planks in pressure, flex, and pull tests in measurement of pounds per square inch. Although being a less expensive material, "...the pine planks from Citiblocs clearly established a positive baseline which meets the demands necessary for use in an educational facility with a more significant price point margin to work within." The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set scored a perfect score of [5 Stars] in this category for DURABILITY.
HYBRID-APPLICATION™: Rating Level - [5]
In our evaluation of the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set in the evaluation category of HYBRID-APPLICATION™, it
was an enjoyable experience. Despite the many years of evaluating products, there is always more to learn and the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set proved that without question.
The the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set was put to use in multiple environments ranging from a licensed pre-school establishment, to use in a family's home with live applied use for home-school study. It was also used of course in our spontaneous hands-on product evaluation events, with the final stop being a facility for SN children. Introducing the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set to such a vast variety of environments and witnessing first-hand its being so suitable for use in each location proved the how the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set is such a perfect fit for hybrid-application™. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set pulled a perfect score of [5 Stars] in our evaluation for this category of HYBRID-APPLICATION™
FUNFACTOR™ / POPULARITY: Rating Level - [4] 
In our evaluation of the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set in the evaluation category of FunFactor™, it demonstrated an enormous capability of creating laughter and sometimes a bit of frolic. Laughter and comedic expressions were at the very center of it all in the midst of their recreational play.
The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set proved it has the organic ingredients to not only serve as a ecological contribution to greenBusiness™, but serves as medium to generate more laughter and a greater level of skill improvement than that of a whoopie cushion! Although there is intense focus quite often as the children exercise the use of the creative imagination, the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set still managed to bring a generous sum of FunFactor™ into the mix.
A quite powerful feature which is unique to Citiblocs is the availability of "colored" planks! Just imagine those same wooden planks you see in a number of wooden building sets, then now seeing them mixed with colored wooden planks in a variety of bright and colorful shades. This adds even more excitement for kids as they play with the Citiblocks. To take it one step further, the ink use is 100% eco-friendly!
The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set danced its way through our evaluation with plenty of excitement from the kids yet at the same time the response from the kids is more focused to create their latest creation of wonder. Although there was plenty of FunFactor™ which was well above average, it still fell short of a perfect score by a single digit. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set pulled its weight in this category with a well above-average score of [4 Stars].
MARKETABILITY: Rating Level - [5]
The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set pulled its weight quite well with
a dominant or competitive position in comparison to other product of like kind
in the market.
When you consider the following;
- Each block is precisely cut using state of the art technologies and high
quality Radiata Pine from certified renewable forests in New Zealand.
- Each block is perfectly cut to ensure proper balance and stackability.
- All Citiblocs are certified safe and non-toxic and have been tested and
approved according to all CPSIA rules and regulations.
- CitiBlocs provide a substantial contribution to a child's skill development
- CitiBlocs have a substantially lesser price point while still retaining
the quality as that of their competitors
The marketing value is influenced dramatically and gives the CitiBlocs a clear
edge on its competitors. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set literally
screams ahead in this evaluation category with a perfect score of [5 Stars].
SKILL IMPROVEMENT: Rating Level - [5]
When it comes to SKILL IMPROVEMENT, the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set creates a "substantial" level of improvement in regard to cognitive, motor, and overall skill development. The incredible level of play and skill development was well established and validated. Creative skills and so much more are exercised and encouraged with the active use of the product.
Many of the most important critical skills which we are most concerned about in a child's skill development are all stimulated in active play with the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set. In the eye's of our independent product evaluators, the CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set serves as a significant source of stimulation and education for a child. This in turn serves as an unquestionable catalyst for increased skill improvement. The CitiBlocs 200 Piece Wooden Building Set screams to the finish line in this segment of our evaluation with a perfect score of [5 Stars] for SKILL IMPROVEMENT.
| EVALUATION RESULTS - From evaluation for induction into "The Toy Man® Product Guide" | | Overall Rating: 5 | Seal of Approval: Approved | eco-Recognition
Seal: Approved | Award of Excellence: Approved | eChoice Award: Selected |
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THE TOY MAN® SEAL OF APPROVAL
"The first and original Seal of Approval...
designed for product recognition and validation."
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THE TOY MAN® ECORECOGNITION SEAL
"An emblem of the highest recognition...
for support of ecological concerns applied in full measure."
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THE TOY MAN® AWARDS
"The globally recognized awards that are received by a limited few...
and give a product the well earned recognition it deserves!"
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