The idea for YoBlocks came about years go, when making a present for my niece for her birthday. I wanted to create a special gift that would be fun, educational, and meaningful. I looked for a way to combine the simplicity of traditional wooden blocks – a toy of infinite creativity – with the people and objects from her exciting first year. With parents from the US and Mexico and extended family members spread across the continent, my niece is a global little girl. By creating YoBlocks for her, I was able to give her a hands-on way to interact with her multicultural heritage, her favorite healthy foods, and photos of the people she loves.
Watching her turn the blocks in her little hands–pointing and smiling at the images they revealed–was truly precious, but when I made my nephew his set I realized more fully the possibilities for YoBlocks. Adopted as a toddler from China into an already multicultural family, my nephew doesn’t have many toys that reflect his specific identity. When playing with his photo blocks, however, he can engage with his past and his present, and connect with images that enliven his particular life experiences.
After making sets of YoBlocks for the kids of many friends and family members, and seeing the joy that results from this hand-crafted novelty, I have launched YoBlocks as a small business in Brooklyn. With a small group of hard-working friends, I hope to run a company that is founded on an impulse to create in the most positive sense, and realized in a manner that strives to maintain the highest level of social and environmental responsibility. I hope that you have a great experience working with us.
