You do not need fancy craft kits or endless planning to keep kids busy.
You just need a bin of jumbo building blocks and today’s retro prompt.
Some days you will build giant pixel hearts.
Other days, a blocky game console or a retro TV everyone can “tune” together.
Our 30 Day Retro Build Challenge turns Biggo Blocks into a month of nostalgic, screen inspired fun that actually pulls kids off the screen.
What Is The 30 Day Retro Build Challenge
The Retro Build Challenge is a printable calendar filled with simple daily prompts you can tackle with jumbo blocks, extra large building blocks, and your regular Biggo Blocks sets.
Each day has one easy idea, such as
-
Build a giant pixel heart
-
Make a retro TV frame around your real TV
-
Design a chunky game console stand
-
Create blocky characters inspired by classic games
You do not need special pieces or complicated instructions. Just pick the day, read the prompt, and let your kids rebuild your favorite throwbacks in block form.
It is structured enough to remove guesswork.
It is open ended enough to keep creativity alive.
Why Retro Builds Work So Well For Kids
Retro ideas are simple by design. Pixels, blocks, basic shapes. That makes them perfect for building blocks for kids.
When kids try to recreate an 8 bit heart with extra large building blocks, they practice
-
Spatial reasoning as they match shapes and proportions
-
Problem solving as they test how to make lines and corners
-
Focus as they stick with one design until it feels right
They also get to connect with your favorite throwbacks. You can tell stories about “the games we played when I was a kid” while they build. It becomes a mix of STEM learning, creativity, and family bonding in one activity.
Pixel & Character Builds
This section of the calendar focuses on simple shapes and iconic “characters” built from blocks.
Typical prompts include
-
Build a giant pixel heart and hang it on the wall
-
Create a smiley face using only two colors
-
Design a blocky hero or character with a cape
-
Make an 8 bit style star or power up symbol
Kids use extra large building blocks to outline and fill simple patterns. You can show them a quick sketch on paper or a tiny pixel doodle, then ask them to “make it bigger” with blocks.
The magic is in the repetition. After a few days of pixel builds, kids start inventing their own hearts, faces, symbols, and characters. Structure becomes a launchpad for original ideas.
Retro Rooms & TV Moments
Retro is not only about characters. It is also about the world around them.
In this part of the challenge, kids build cozy scenes and old school setups with jumbo blocks, such as
-
A retro TV frame they can stand behind and “host” a show
-
A blocky couch or chair in front of the TV
-
A mini living room scene with a stand for game controllers or plushies
-
A pretend “video rental” wall made from stacked blocks
You can turn each build into a little performance. After they finish the TV frame, let them act out a fake show. After they build a couch, let them line up stuffed animals for “movie night.”
This shows kids that STEM toys are not just for straight towers. They are storytelling tools that help them build whole worlds.
Big Energy Arcade Builds
Every retro world needs an arcade. This section of the challenge calendar brings the big build energy.
Prompts here ask kids to build larger structures with jumbo building blocks, such as
-
A doorway that feels like walking into an arcade
-
A stand for a “game cabinet” with a screen area
-
A race track or obstacle course inspired by old school racing games
-
A “coin wall” or ticket counter where they pretend to trade in points
These builds push kids to think about height, stability, and function. A doorway has to be tall enough to walk through. A race track has to be wide enough for toy cars. They are quietly learning engineering basics while they play.
If you have siblings or friends building together, these prompts are perfect for teamwork. One child can design the entrance. Another can handle the track. A third can decorate with pixel hearts and stars.
How To Use The Printable Retro Calendar
You can run the challenge in many ways.
Some families follow the calendar day by day for a full month. Others pick three prompts a week and stretch it across the season. Teachers might select a few builds to match a STEM or “retro tech” theme in the classroom.
However you use it, a few tips help:
-
Keep your jumbo blocks in an easy access bin near your build area
-
Show kids the calendar and let them mark off completed days
-
Take photos of favorite builds and save them as a “retro gallery”
-
Encourage kids to remix prompts once they have built the original version
Soon the calendar becomes more than a checklist. It becomes a record of how their skills and imagination grew.
Why Parents Love This Challenge
Parents tell us they love the Retro Build Challenge because it:
-
Cuts down on “What should we do now” moments
-
Makes screen inspired fun actually happen off screen
-
Turns jumbo building blocks into a structured, purposeful play routine
-
Supports spatial reasoning, planning, and creative confidence
You are not just getting a cute printable. You are getting a framework for a month of better play.
Press Start And Play
Want the full set of prompts in an easy printable format?
When you spend $150+ on Biggo Blocks, you will get 15% off your order and unlock the complete 30 Day Retro Build Challenge calendar. It is your ready to go roadmap for pixel hearts, retro rooms, and big energy arcade builds.
Explore structured builds and retro ideas on our Challenge Hub.
Get the calendar and start your retro build streak today.
){kind=link}