Startup to Launch Sustainable and Educational Toy on Kickstarter

ITHACA, N.Y. - Jan. 25, 2022 - PRLog -- Designed to enrich number sense and imagination in children, NumberBLOX is the ultimate toy for learning through play. Each set comes with 55, 2.75 x 5.5 x 0.75-inch wooden blocks, whose large size and engraved pips allow children to get a tactile feel for numbers. The product is the brainchild of educator Lee Kaltman, who founded his startup, Ithaca Toys, to encourage STEAM learning through sustainable and handcrafted wooden products.

NumberBLOX revolutionizes the way children think of numbers. For example, we all know that 7 x 8 = 56. However, we can also subtract two 7s from 10 x 7 (70 - 14) to get the same number. This ability to reframe math in simpler terms is known as number sense, a skill that NumberBLOX allows toddlers to build with its visual and tactile blocks. Rather than rote memorization, children can contextualize math to their own understanding.

In addition to education, Ithaca Toys also focuses on social impact. According to founder Lee Kaltman, "The company is more than the products we create. We also support workforce development and ethical labor." Thus, the company has been offering training and job experiences to a diverse group of dedicated individuals with challenges to finding meaningful work for the past couple of years.

Moreover, NumberBLOX is made from maple wood locally grown and harvested in the Northeast. Each wooden block bears the marks of the tree it came from, with unique patterns created by Mother Nature. Using light sandpaper and mineral oil, children learn to take care of this simple yet beautiful material and adopt a sustainable appreciation for nature.

Currently, Ithaca Toys' NumberBLOX have found its way inside over 50 classrooms nationwide (including Puerto Rico). In December, the company produced 100 sets through a pilot production run, successfully providing job training to an initial group of toymakers. It hopes to scale production up by 400 more units, providing hundreds of hours of additional work experience for individuals with challenges to employment. Launching in the second quarter, Ithaca Toys is offering a unique opportunity on Kickstarter to revolutionize a child's approach to math. For $198, backers can receive a full set of NumberBLOX while providing job opportunities for under-served communities and caring for our planet.

To purchase this product or simply support Ithaca Toy's mission of encouraging STEAM learning and creating social impact, head to Kickstarter and get notified on our launch: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ithacatoys/numberblox-an-educational-and-all-natural-toy