Based on what we learned from the first blocks, we decided to try to something different this time. We gave the kids a set of 8 silicone blocks of various colors, shapes, and squishiness-es, but instead of giving them outside, we put them on a light table. With this, the kids started making all sorts of shapes and treating the blocks as blocks and not balls.
Or at least most of them did until one threw one up in the air. Then it became a mix of block-balls and building blocks. With some gentle prompting (aka, I did it once and showed them), the kids discovered that the blocks can stick together. They were actually not as interested in that as simply stacking or throwing, but they did try to build that way.
Overall, the cubes drew interest, but couldn't hold the interest on the light table the way the different material blocks did outside. We did confirm they love throwing them, and stacking them on the light table is really cool!
