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Discovering endless possibilities with the AVDAR Multi-floor Block Set
About The Author
Nadi Zoetebier is a mother of two boys, content creator and founder of TijdOmTeSpelen.nl. She creates content about open-ended, educational and sensory play, inspiring families worldwide to rediscover the joy of meaningful play. Connect on Instagram: @nadizoetebier.
Hi! I’m Nadi, a mother of two boys (aged four and a newborn), content creator and founder of TijdOmTeSpelen.nl, a lifestyle magazine dedicated to the power of play. I’ve always believed that the best toys are the ones that don’t do the playing for children. Wooden, sustainable toys invite little ones to slow down and think. To build, imagine and explore at their own rhythm.
What are open-ended toys?
Open-ended toys are toys without a fixed outcome or a single way to play. There are no buttons to press or instructions to follow. Instead, they invite children to decide what happens next. Open-ended toys from AVDAR encourage children to take the lead. They allow play to unfold naturally. A few wooden blocks might become a car garage one day and a fairy castle the next. A set of arches could turn into bridges, tunnels or mountains.
This freedom to experiment is what makes open-ended toys so powerful. They spark creativity because there’s no single right way to use them. They also strengthen essential early skills like spatial reasoning, problem-solving and fine motor control. Through trial and error, children learn to balance, connect and construct. They make plans, adjust them and try again. All while having fun.
Open-ended toys also encourage independent thinking and resilience. When something doesn’t work, children adapt and rebuild. And because these toys grow with your child’s imagination, they never really get old. A set that starts as a toddler’s stacking game can later become the foundation for complex buildings, small world play or storytelling adventures.
For parents, that means investing in play materials that last for years. Toys that evolve alongside your child, supporting every stage of learning and imagination. When I first discovered AVDAR, I immediately felt that connection. Their designs are thoughtful, modern and beautifully balanced between art and play. Each piece feels good in your hands. Smooth, solid and made to last.
Meet the AVDAR Multi-floor Block Set
The AVDAR Multi-floor Block Set from the Homeland Collection 2024 is one of those open-ended toy sets that completely redefines what building blocks can be. Inside its wooden storage box (with a clear acrylic lid!) you’ll find over 40 pieces in a range of (geometric) shapes and figures. Stairs, arches, flat boards and more items that make it possible to experiment with different levels and heights. This set invites children to think in layers. The stair blocks allow figures to move between floors and the arches bring architectural flow to every creation.
And speaking of figures: the set includes a family of five wooden people and a little dog, ready to move into whatever world your child imagines. These figures turn every build into a story. One day they might live in a tall apartment building, the next they might run a shop or explore a museum built entirely from blocks.
All pieces are made from linden wood and multi-layer linden wood, finished with non-toxic, water-based wax colors. That makes them safe for little hands, even when play gets intense (and it often does!). The pieces are light enough for toddlers to handle, yet strong enough to stay stable while building.
Building, sorting and free play
When we first opened the box, my oldest was three and a half. At that age, stacking and sorting come naturally.
At this stage, play is about discovery. You can almost see children thinking with their hands. They experiment with balance and figure out how to make something stand taller. Or they realise that a smaller piece can support a larger one (wow!). That’s hands-on STEM learning (and a bit of emotional learning, too, when a build collapses after many attempts).
Free play is where the real magic happens. Most of the times I try to offer minimal direction, simply placing the set in the middle of an empty floor. Sometimes my son stacks high towers, other times he lays everything flat to build a garage for his cars. And during Halloween, it became a haunted house. The family figures always join the adventure. Walking up stairs, sleeping in their ‘beds’, sitting on ‘chairs’.
Play ideas: what to build
Once children feel confident exploring the pieces freely, you can gently introduce prompts. Here are some favorite ways to play together with the Multi-floor Block Set.
● Build a home or apartment
Start with a simple foundation. Add stairs between levels and use the arch pieces as unique doorways. Let your child decide who lives where. Maybe the parents upstairs, the children below and the dog guarding the entrance?
How many types of houses can you come up with? Who are they for?
● Create a city street or marketplace
Use the flat boards to make roofs and counters. Suddenly you have a row of shops: a bakery, a bookstore, a flower shop.
● Design a garage or train station
Combine arches and pillars to create a garage or train station. Wooden cars or trains can move in and out (or under). Let the family figures wait for their turn to travel.
● Build a theme park or zoo
Stack multi-floor platforms to create viewing decks. Add animals from your collection and trees from the Chubby Forest Set for a lively scene.
Complementary AVDAR sets to expand the fun
The Multi-floor Block Set shines on its own, but it also connects beautifully with other AVDAR collections. Here are a few that pair perfectly.
● Brick Blocks Classic rectangular blocks for endless building adventures. Perfect for expanding structures horizontally.
● Cube Blocks A colorful 36-piece starter set for younger builders. Great for stacking, sorting or filling open spaces in multi-floor builds.
● Step Blocks These handcrafted planks are perfect for connecting structures, creating bridges and adding stability between different levels.
● Chubby Forest Set Rounded, sturdy (and cute!) wooden trees that instantly turn any structure into a small world scene.
● Wooden Dollhouse Furniture Set Bring furniture to your builds with these beds, chairs, tables and a sofa.
● Trailer Travel Set This family-on-wheels set (with four figures, a cat and a wooden trailer platform) adds motion and adventure to your play world! We love to combine this one.
Each of these sets is made from high-quality linden wood and finished with safe, non-toxic paints. Together, they create a cohesive, open-ended play ecosystem. One that supports everything from fine motor skills to storytelling, collaboration and imaginative thinking.
Why quality play materials matter?
When you invest in well-made, thoughtfully designed toys, you’re giving your child the freedom to learn naturally. Play is how children make sense of the world. How they test ideas, solve problems and express feelings.
With toys like the AVDAR Multi-floor Block Set, you don’t need flashing lights or batteries. You need time, imagination and a safe, inspiring environment. That’s where growth happens! For me, quality toys are about more than aesthetics or durability (though those matter too). They’re about respect. Respecting children’s creativity, their need for hands-on exploration and their right to slow, meaningful play.
That’s why our home is filled with toys that invite, not instruct. The Multi-floor Block Set continues to surprise us. I wish the same for you.
