# Personifying Animal Building Blocks Olliblocks are Fun and Educational Toys for Children By Jen Chae | Published 2013-07-16 | Art & Design Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/fun-and-educational References: [kickstarter](http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/778615972/mixmates-colorful-mix-and-match-wooden-blocks) & [caravanshoppe](http://www.caravanshoppe.com/product/monsters-superheroes-2/) Olliblocks started out as a DIY post on a blog called [Caravan Shoppe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/straw-flea-house), but soon became a hit because of how fun and educational they were. Infusing two themes like animals and clothing or monsters and superheroes, Caravan Shoppe creates [stackable building blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-education-science-kits) that enhance creativity in children. The blocks are meant to be mixed and matched. Children will have a blast stacking a lion's head on top of horse's feet and a buttoned-down shirt. Olliblocks start out as a DIY craft project because the blocks do not come fully finished. The package includes print-outs and blank blocks, so mothers and children can cut and paste. Olliblocks last a long time because new printouts can be glued on top of older images. This product is currently raising funds for production on [Kickstarter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnecraft). ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 0.7/10 - Popularity: 13% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Art & Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/artdesign) > [Design](https://www.trendhunter.com/design) ## Key Themes ### What's Driving This Trend - **Educational Crafting:** The trend of DIY educational toys like Olliblocks allows for children to be creative and learn in a fun way. - **Mix-and-match Toys:** The trend of mix-and-match toys such as Olliblocks challenges traditional toy designs and encourages children to create unique combinations. - **Modular Toy Design:** The trend of modular toy design, as seen in Olliblocks, allows for versatility and endless possibilities for children's play. ### Who This Affects Most - **Toy Manufacturing:** Toy manufacturers can explore educational, DIY, mix-and-match, and modular designs like Olliblocks to create innovative products that cater to children's imagination. - **Crafting Supplies:** Crafting supply companies can create and market easy-to-use materials that cater to the growing trend of DIY educational toys and enhance children's creativity. - **Education and Learning:** Education and learning industries can explore how DIY educational toys like Olliblocks can be incorporated into early childhood development to enhance learning through play. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Block Puzzle Modular Dollhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dollhouse-concept.md) - [Creative STEM-Based Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/jitterygit.md) - [Big Apple Toy Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/machi-town-new-york.md) - [Magnetic Building Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnecraft.md) - [Buildable Paper Playsets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/castle-playset.md) - [Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/funphix.md) - [Squishable Construction Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/squishmallows-x-bldr.md) - [NFC-Enabled Building Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/educational-building-blocks.md) - [Dinosaur Tile STEAM Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/dino-adventure-pack.md)