We received the Once Kids™ Eco Bricks™ 24 and Once Kids™ Playhard Hero 1 Piece DIY from The Lazy Dog & Co. this summer for our review.  In this was a set of 24 Eco Bricks and a Playhard Hero.  Both sets are made of solid wood and of excellent quality.

The Eco Bricks™ contains 4-4 dot wooden covers, 18-8 dot wooden blocks, 2-16 dot axels with wheels, a wooden storage box, and ten wooden pencils.  So, what's different about these blocks?  First off, they are compatible with all major brands of building blocks.  We stacked ours with name brands and off brands and had no problems with either.  They are very durable.  We've been using ours for about three months now and have had zero breakage.  

The Playhard Hero 1 Piece DIY was a massive hit at our house.  All my children loved it and wanted a turn with it.  As a result, each part was colored by a different person.  The toy is solid wood with elastic pieces to make it movable and metal pieces where it is attached.  Both sets can be colored however the child chooses with the included ten different colored wooden pencils.  Each also has a laser engraved wooden storage box that slides open.

Overall, I'm impressed with the quality of these wooden toys.  Neither has broken or had any damage, which is significant when you consider four children have been playing with them.  I was disappointed, though, that they are not made in the USA.  

Wooden toys (especially ones that can be customized) are an excellent purchase for children and grandchildren (or as a birthday gift).  We are all inundated with cheap plastic toys, and these are a refreshing change of pace.  For example, my children made wagons and cars with the blocks and acted out stories with the superhero.  

The Eco Bricks™ 24 sells for $19.99, and the Playhard Hero sells for $15.99, making them an affordable choice.

 -Product review by Jenny Underwood, The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine, July 2021