hand2mind Numberblocks Heroes MathLink Cubes review

Are you curious whether the hand2mind Numberblocks Heroes with Zeroes MathLink Cubes Activity Set is the right hands-on math toy for your child?

Quick Summary

You’ll get a large, officially licensed Numberblocks set designed to make counting, grouping, and place value understandable and fun. The set combines character-driven play with 506 MathLink cubes and themed accessories so you can teach tens, hundreds, addition, subtraction, and basic multiplication in a tactile way.

What This Product Is

This product, “hand2mind Numberblocks Heroes with Zeroes MathLink Cubes Activity Set, Preschool Learning Activities, Math Manipulatives Kindergarten, Counting Blocks, Number Linking Cubes, Kids Educational Toys”, is a branded learning kit based on the Numberblocks series. The design pairs MathLink cubes with character faceplates and activity cards so you can connect story-based learning to math concepts.

Who It’s For

You can use this set with preschoolers, kindergarteners, and young elementary students who are beginning to understand counting by tens and place value. It’s also practical for parents, homeschoolers, and teachers who want a classroom-ready manipulative set to reinforce visual and tactile learning.

What’s Included

You’ll find a comprehensive set of cubes, accessories, and activity materials that aim to support a variety of math lessons and play scenarios. Every component is intended to make number building, combining, and comparing more concrete for young learners.

Pieces and Components

You’ll receive many individual pieces that combine to make guided and free-play math activities simple to run. The selection includes MathLink cubes in large quantities, faceplates for Numberblocks characters, activity cards, connectors, and storage.

Component	Quantity	Purpose
MathLink Cubes	506	Core linking units for counting, grouping by 10s, and building up to 100
Dual Connector MathLink Cubes	46	Allows you to create multiple attachments and build taller structures
Faceplates	21	Character faces to identify Numberblocks and personalize number builds
Numberlings	10	Mini character pieces for role play and guided activities
Double-Sided Activity Cards	10	Episode-tied activities to guide math practice and learning objectives
Double-Sided Character Cards	10	Visual references for building each Numberblock character
Accessories	12	Small props for play-based scenarios that reinforce concepts
Sticker Sheet	1	Decorative and labeling use to enhance character identification
Activity Guide	1	Step-by-step directions and suggested activities for using the set
Plastic Storage Case with Lid	1	Keeps all pieces organized and portable

First Impressions

When you open the box, you’ll notice the bright colors and friendly faces that match the TV series aesthetic. The large number of cubes and the sturdy plastic case make it feel like a classroom-level kit you can use for multiple children or long-term lessons.

Packaging and Presentation

You’ll appreciate that the set comes in a robust plastic storage case with a lid, which helps keep everything organized and reduces loss. The presentation reflects a product that was designed for teachers and parents who need durable, repeatable materials.

Educational Goals and Learning Outcomes

You’ll be supporting many core early math skills when you use this set, including counting by tens, place value, basic operations, and number sense. The Numberblocks connection helps children map abstract symbols (numbers) to concrete representations (blocks and faces).

Number Sense and Place Value

You’ll guide your child to understand that ten units make a ten and ten tens make a hundred by physically linking cubes into groups. The faceplates and character cards make it easier for learners to attach meaning to the numbers they’re creating.

Counting, Addition, and Subtraction

You can use the cubes to model addition and subtraction problems so your child can see how numbers change when you add or remove links. Because cubes link together, you’ll show regrouping visually when you move from ones to tens.

Multiplication and Division Intro

You’ll introduce multiplication as repeated addition and division as fair-sharing by arranging cubes into equal groups and counting groups of tens. The set is especially good for showing multiplication tables like the tens (10, 20, 30, etc.) because of the zeroes theme.

How to Use It in Your Home or Classroom

You’ll find this kit adaptable for floor play, table lessons, and guided instruction with one student or a small group. Activities range from simple free play to structured tasks aligned with the activity cards.

Guided Activities

You’ll use the double-sided activity cards, which are tied to Numberblocks episodes, to run short lessons focused on specific ideas like “build Ten” or “show how twenty is two tens.” These cards help structure sessions and give you quick lesson prompts.

Open-Ended Play

You can let your child create characters, tell stories, and combine accessories to represent math problems socially and creatively. Open-ended play encourages exploration of number relationships without a strictly graded approach.

Assembly and Setup

You’ll be able to get started quickly because cubes simply snap together and faceplates attach to linked cubes. The activity guide provides step-by-step ideas, so setup is minimal and intuitive.

Time to Start Playing

You’ll likely spend a few minutes unpacking and sorting pieces into the plastic storage case before the first session. Once pieces are in the case, you can take 5–10 minutes to follow a suggested activity and then let play continue independently.

Storage and Portability

You’ll appreciate the included storage case with lid, which helps keep small parts together and makes it easier to transport between home and classroom. While the case is helpful, you may find it useful to add small zip bags for tiny accessories if you’re frequently mobile.

Durability and Safety

You’ll notice that MathLink cubes are made of sturdy plastic designed for repeat snapping and unsnapping, ideal for frequent use in a classroom setting. All pieces should be safe for the recommended age range, but small parts still require supervision for younger children.

Materials and Build Quality

You’ll be reassured that the cubes are robust enough for everyday handling and linking, so they won’t break easily under normal play conditions. Faceplates and accessories are also well-molded, though you should expect normal wear over time with heavy use.

Safety Considerations

You’ll want to supervise children under three due to small parts like accessories and faceplates that could present a choking hazard. For recommended ages (preschool and kindergarten), the pieces are appropriate when used as directed and under adult supervision.

Hands-On Play Ideas

You’ll find creative ways to use the set across math-focused and imaginative scenarios that reinforce learning without feeling like drills. The Numberblocks characters make it fun to turn math problems into storytelling.

Ten Building Race

You can challenge your child to build as many sets of ten as possible in a minute and then count groups to reach larger numbers like 50 or 100. This activity reinforces counting by tens, grouping strategies, and speed in recognizing groups.

Story Problems with Characters

You can create short story problems with Numberblocks characters—such as “Ten needs two friends, each made of ten cubes; how many cubes are there total?”—and have your child build the answer. This helps link language comprehension with math reasoning.

Place Value Train

You can build “trains” of tens and hundreds using the cubes and then ask your child to rearrange them to represent different numbers, helping them visualize place value and regrouping. You’ll use faceplates to label each train car for easy identification.

Using the Activity Cards Effectively

You’ll use the double-sided cards as quick lesson anchors and to align play with episode-based narratives that children may recognize. These cards can be rotated into your regular activity plan for short, focused sessions.

Following Episode Themes

You can tie a session to a specific Numberblocks episode and replicate a problem or concept dealt with in that show using the cubes. This connection helps reinforce the storyline and mathematical idea simultaneously.

Adapting for Different Levels

You can modify each activity card to make it more or less challenging depending on your child’s skills; for instance, change a counting-by-10s task into a two-digit addition problem for a slightly older learner. The double-sided nature of the cards gives flexibility for quick differentiation.

Classroom Use and Lesson Planning

You’ll find this set is suitable for small group stations, whole-group demonstrations, or special education settings where tactile learning strengthens comprehension. The quantity of pieces makes it viable for multi-child activities without immediate scarcity.

Small Group Rotations

You can assign groups to build certain Numberblocks characters and then rotate cards so every group practices different skills like subtraction or place value. This multi-station approach makes classroom management easier and encourages peer conversation about strategies.

Whole-Class Demonstrations

You can use a document camera or a guided water-together demonstration to model how to regroup tens into hundreds and to show strategies for addition and subtraction. The visual clarity of linked cubes makes whole-class presentation straightforward.

Pros and Cons

You’ll appreciate the many strengths of this kit, but you should also be honest about a few drawbacks that might affect your decision. Knowing both sides helps you choose the best fit for your needs.

Pros

You’ll get a highly tactile set that aligns with an educational TV series kids already know, which enhances engagement and meaning. The high number of cubes and connectors makes it practical for classroom use, and the storage case keeps materials organized.

Cons

You’ll need to supervise small parts around very young children and expect that heavy classroom use will eventually cause some wear. The initial cost may be higher than a single small set of cubes, so budget-conscious buyers should weigh classroom needs versus home play.

Value for Money

You’ll likely assess value by comparing piece count, educational alignment, and licensing to other manipulatives on the market. For parents or teachers who want a branded, episode-tied resource that includes hundreds of cubes and many accessories, this set offers substantial value.

Longevity of Use

You’ll be able to use this set across multiple years as your child advances from counting by ones to understanding tens, hundreds, and early multiplication. The broad utility across early elementary standards makes it useful over several grade levels.

Comparison to Alternatives

You can find basic linking cubes at lower prices, but this set’s official Numberblocks branding and included character pieces provide story-driven context that cheaper sets don’t offer. If you only want plain cubes, a less expensive non-branded set might suffice, but you’ll lose the episode-tied engagement.

Comparison to a Standard MathLink Cube Set

You’ll notice similarities in function but differences in quantity and theme when comparing this set to standard MathLink cube packs. The Numberblocks version adds characters, guided activities, and a larger cube count geared toward classroom or multi-child use.

Themed vs. Plain Cubes

You can use plain cubes for the same mathematical functions, but the Numberblocks faceplates and cards add narrative cues that help children attach meaning to the numbers they build. The themed approach often boosts motivation more than neutral tools.

Quantity and Accessories

You’ll benefit from the larger number of cubes and specialized accessories in this set if you plan to teach groups or run multiple activities without reusing pieces constantly. The additional dual connectors and faceplates make building more flexible and creative.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of the Set

You’ll make learning stick by using the set routinely, rotating activities, and combining guided lessons with free play. Small, frequent sessions are usually more effective than long, infrequent lessons.

Routine Integration

You can incorporate quick five- to ten-minute cube sessions into daily routines, such as warm-ups or transitions, to build number sense gradually. Repetition and short practice sessions help retention without burning out attention spans.

Encouraging Language

You can pair cube activities with math talk—ask “How many tens do you see?” or “What happens when you add another ten?”—so your child practices vocabulary like tens, ones, hundreds, add, and subtract. Language-rich interactions strengthen conceptual understanding.

Maintenance and Cleaning

You’ll be able to keep pieces in good condition with simple cleaning and sensible storage. The plastic construction makes the cubes easy to wipe down when needed.

Cleaning Methods

You can wash cubes with mild soap and warm water, then air-dry thoroughly before storing them to avoid mold or odor. Avoid harsh chemical cleaners that could degrade plastic or damage stickers and faceplates.

Replacing Parts

You can expect to eventually misplace small pieces, so consider keeping spare cubes or small zip bags for sets in classrooms. If parts wear out, you may need to replace faceplates or accessories individually or purchase a supplemental cube set.

Real-World Use Cases and Examples

You’ll find many practical classroom and home scenarios where this set improves comprehension and engagement, especially when tied to a story or character. Concrete examples show how you can scaffold from basic counting to multi-step arithmetic.

Homeschooling Example

You can run a 20-minute lesson where your child watches a short Numberblocks clip, follows a matching activity card, and then builds the corresponding character using cubes. After building, have them write the numeral and explain how many tens and ones are present to reinforce multiple modalities of learning.

Kindergarten Center Example

You can create a center where children rotate through ten-minute stations: one station for building tens, one for matching faceplates to numbers, and one for solving simple addition/deletion challenges. Each station uses the same set of cubes but focuses on a different skill.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

You’ll likely have practical questions about age recommendations, piece counts, and how the set supports curriculum goals. The FAQ answers the small but important logistics you’ll want to know.

What ages is this set best for?

You’ll find it best suited for preschool through early elementary (roughly ages 3–8), with the most immediate benefit for children learning place value and counting by tens. Younger children should be supervised because of small parts.

How many cubes are included?

You’ll receive 506 MathLink cubes plus 46 dual connector cubes, which gives you ample material for building large numbers and supporting multiple children in a classroom. The large count makes it practical for group learning.

Is the set durable?

You’ll find the cubes and accessories are made from durable plastic meant for frequent linking and unlinking, though heavy classroom use may eventually show wear. Proper cleaning and storage will extend useful life.

Final Thoughts

You’ll find the hand2mind Numberblocks Heroes with Zeroes MathLink Cubes Activity Set to be a comprehensive, engaging manipulative that blends character-driven play with core math concepts. If your goal is to strengthen your child’s early number sense, counting by tens, and place value understanding while keeping lessons imaginative and tangible, this set is a strong choice.

Buying Recommendation

You should consider this set if you want a classroom-capable kit with hundreds of cubes, character faces, and structured activities tied to an educational series. If you only need a small home set or are on a tight budget, you might opt for fewer cubes without the themed extras, but you’ll lose the narrative engagement.

One Last Tip

You’ll promote long-term learning by pairing hands-on building with conversations and written follow-up activities; ask your child to record what they built or explain their thinking to reinforce their understanding. The combination of play, talk, and reflection will yield the best outcomes with this set.

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