Sign up for our Email NewsletterAs our lives get busier, opportunities to engage in conversations about building strong character seem to happen much less often. Life’s Building Blocks has created tools to help create these conversations on a regular basis. Our team includes prominent ethicist, award winning writers and illustrators, and individuals who were involved with the product development for companies like Leapfrog®, Baby Einstein®, and Sesame Street®, so as you’re teaching, the kids are just having fun.
Life’s Building Blocks products are based upon a group of kids called the Spruce Street Six: Honest Jake, Jessica the Brave, Calm Carlos, Lauren Never Quits, Jarrett the Just, and Kind Shawnie. Your children will also be introduced to Zaki the Character Chameleon who helps the Spruce Street Six recognize morally charged situations and helps them make good decisions. This makes the learning experience fun, easy to relate to, and positive.
Ages 6-11 (click on product name in bright colors to view a trial of the product)
Do your kids love to read?
Virtue Specific Chapter Books -
The books present moral dilemmas to the readers as the members of the Spruce Street Six face difficult situations. The books work well, because they allow the readers to view the thought processes that the kids go through as they make decisions. In addition, at the end of each book there is a section called “Something to Think About from Zaki” that is a review of the important lessons parents and kids can talk about. But to the kids they are just fun interesting books.
Honest Jake - "The Big Mistake" Product Trial Link
Jessica the Brave - "Spider Cave" Product Trial Link "
Calm Carlos - "The Worst Day Ever" Product Trial Link"
Kind Shawnie - "The Contest" Product Trial Link
Lauren Never Quits - "To The Rescue" Product Trial Link
Jarrett the Just - "The Spooky Mansion" Product Trial LInk
A meaningful alternative to video games, if only for a little while.....
Virtue Specific Activity Books -
The activity books are filled with lessons that surround the virtue of the month and give parents and kids opportunities to talk. But to the kids they are just fun puzzles, stories, word searches, and coded messages.
Honesty Activity Book Product Trial Link Courage Activity Book Product Trial Link
Self-Control Activity Book Product Trial Link Kindness Activity Book Product Trial Link
Perseverance Activity Book Product Trial Link Fairness Activity Book Product Trial Link
Remember family game night?
" What Would Zaki Do?" Board Game-
"What Would Zaki Do?" is a board game that allows children to hear different perspectives of a moral dilemma. All these scenarios pit virtues against each other, honesty vs. kindness, self control vs. persistence, etc. There are no right answers to these scenarios, but what is important is that the children are discussing moral circumstances and learning that there is much to consider when these situations come up. But to the kids, it’s just a fun board game and a chance to debate their friends and family.
Note – New scenario cards for "What Would Zaki Do?" can be purchased to keep your game fresh.
"What Would Zaki Do?" Product Trial Link
Other neat ideas to consider...
Thank You Cards - 
The monthly Thanks You Cards are very unique and important. It is important for children to seek out positive behavior. Each character development program includes three (3) Thank You Cards every month for the selected virtue. You and your child will sit down and think about people who have displayed that virtue around your child. Not only do you have the chance to have a great conversation about the influences your child experiences , but when your kids are seeking out this positive behavior, they will likely begin to model that behavior as well. But to the children, they will have fun sending mail to their friends.
Thank You Card Outside Product Trial Link
Thank You Card Inside Product Trial Link
Family Activity Cards - 
The family activity cards bring together all members of the family at any age to have fun discussions and activities about the selected virtue.
Family Activity Card Product Trial Link
Ages 3-6 (click on product name in bright colors to view a trial of the product)
Start them young, you won't regret it!
"Storytelling Zaki" talking plush doll -
"Storytelling Zaki" is a loveable plush doll of our “character chameleon”, Zaki. "Storytelling Zaki" has six (6) fables written into short stories and rhymes starring the Spruce Street Six. Like Zaki in the chapter books, "Storytelling Zaki" has fins on the back which change colors when the kids are in situations where they should stop, slow down and think, or go for it! There is also the Zaki song which describes Zaki’s color changing process. Zaki will include a cartridge slot that will allow the consumer to get new stories, thereby keeping Zaki fresh and extending the product’s lifecycle. The exposure to the different stories and dilemmas in the stories will give more exposure to how proper moral decisions should be made. In addition, the visual aspect of the changing colors will give visual feedback to compliment the auditory feedback.
"Storytelling Zaki" Product Trial Link
Life's Building Blocks and Replacement Wraps -
The product is comprised of nine (9), 3 ½ inch blocks. This original set of blocks will act as a base for interchangeable story wraps. The blocks each contain a page of the story, with the even number blocks presenting scenarios to the children in which they need to make a decision as to what they would do in certain situations. The product teaches through the presentation of real life dilemmas, and helping the children decide what they would do in that situation. The immediate feedback allows parents the opportunity to discuss the dilemmas, and help the child understand the proper thought process.
Life's Building Blocks and Replacement Wraps Product Trial Link
What Should I Buy?
We recommend the purchase of the Character Development program to all families because there’s no quick way to develop one’s character!
The program lasts six months. Month 1 is Honesty month, Month 2 is Courage, Month 3 is Self Control, Month 4 is Kindness, Month 5 is Perseverance, Month 6 is Fairness/Reward and Application.
In Month 1 you will receive the Board Game “What Would Zaki Do?”. You will also receive the Honest Jake Chapter Book, Honesty Activity Book, Honesty Family Activity Card, and 3 Honesty Thank You Cards. All of Life’s Building Blocks primary products come with adult guides to help you take full advantage of these teachable moments.
In Month 2-6 you will receive a replacement set of cards for What Would Zaki Do?, to keep your game fresh, along with the Virtue of the Month Chapter Book, Activity Book, Family Activity Card, and 3 Thank You Cards.
You will receive all these products for just $19.99/month.
Just try it! It will be immediately apparent whether the program is working and you are having conversations you would not have had otherwise.
If these conversations and teachable moments aren’t occurring at a higher rate, opt out of the program and your loss is $19.99. The risks are minimal but the rewards are life altering.
A la Carte.
All Life’s Building Blocks products are available individually as well. Just pick which products you believe you children will enjoy most.
