Magic Sponge Blocks
Invented by 10-year old Taylor Hernandez
 

Taylor’s little brother and sister were playing with building blocks. They created different structures but really wanted them to be kid sized. They asked their mom if they could find something larger that they could build but their mom did not want to deal with the big storage problem and dismissed their request. Taylor thought how she could create a construction toy that fulfills the dreams of her younger siblings and does not take up a lot of her mom’s valuable space. 

She had an AHA….. If the building blocks were made of sponge or foam material they could be compressed for storage yet kid sized when in use. They would also be safe and durable for indoor or outdoor play.

Taylor Hernandez designed the Magic Sponge Block Building System, a life size construction set that lets kids build forts, houses, castles and stages. When ready to be stored they are placed in a special vacuum bag where the air is sucked out reducing the size to about 10 to 20% of its original. Now the blocks can fit in any closet, under a bed, in a toy chest or a storage container. Additionally she included an embedded magnetic connector feature to hold the structure securely together and give kids the creative freedom to build anything.

Marketers benefit with this product line as well because it demonstrates incredibly well on TV, fits into a relatively small retail display box and offers a high value proposition. The pure novelty of this idea will attract millions. Just as the shrunken sponge or compact wash cloth, attracts kids every kid will want to have one of those, just to watch it grow. BKFK signed a global licensing deal on behalf of Taylor with Foamables® Fun Furniture for Kids™.

2005 Chester Award winner in the By Kids For Kids Xerox National Invention Competition.