Interlocking EVA Alphabet & Numbers Mats
Interlocking play mats are a firm favourite in homes throughout the UK – they are very functional, easy to clean and enable kids to develop their counting and spelling skills while having a fun time.
The fact these mats are made up of several tiles means they can be easily dismantled into small sections and placed in a washing machine- and that’s something which should appeal to any busy mum!
Interlocking mats are available in a range of sizes, starting with a small play mat comprising 9 or 10 tile section, and rising to an extra large mat with more than 36 tile pieces.
The educational benefit of these mats is easy to see – many have either letters, numbers, or animal and fun character shapes on them to help encourage the development of an infant or toddler’s brain power.
EVA (Ethylene-vinyl acetate) is the most commonly used type of foam for interlocking mats which are manufactured with child safety and hygiene to the fore.
Here are some of the most popular letters and numbers tile mats currently available at Amazon.
TLCmat - EN71 Safety Approved Non-Toxic Soft Puzzle Jagsaw Foam Play Mat with Storage Bag (Alphabet/Number 36pcs Pack)
(852)
Assemblemat® - 36 piece Soft Numbers and Alphabet Play Mats with edging - Interlocking Foam Mat For Children - Activity Puzzle Playmats - Floor Protection - EVA Foam Rubber Numbers Mat - 0 - 9 and Alphabet mats A-Z = 36 Tiles in total in carry bag.
(150)
40 SQ FT / 3.68M² / 36 Piece Interlocking Soft Kids Baby EVA Foam Activity Play Mat Floor Tiles *Sale*
(1104)
Large foam puzzle for children with letters and numbers, 40 pieces
(501)
Gadgetking 36PC Soft EVA Foam Baby Children Kids Play Mat Alphabet Number Puzzle Jigsaw Activity Foam Soft Padded -Letters & Numbers
(90)
Foam Play Mat | Large Size Baby Play Mats For Floor | 36pc Grey (180cm X 180cm)
(77)
LittleTom Soft Baby Play Mat Children Foam Puzzle 10 Large Floor Tiles Numbers
(1096)
JJ PRIME® - EN71 Safety Approved Non-Toxic 36Pieces Soft Eva Foam Interlocking Play Mats for Toddlers 30x30cm (12x12 inch) Alphabet+Number
(56)The soft rubber-foam mat tiles have interconnection slots, similar to those you find on a jigsaw, so they can be put together to form a flat mat on the floor, or disconnected and put together again to form three dimensional shapes including giant cubes. They can even be put together to create the shape of a car, castle or play cave – how cool is that!
These fun mats are very soft and spongy so there’s minimal risk of your little children hurting thmeselves if they fall or topple over on the EVA foam.
Interlocking mats are great fun for infants and toddlers whose enquiring minds just love learning the process of connecting the letter and number tiles in alphabetical or numerical sequence. The tiles comes in various bright colours including blue, red, green, yellow, orange, pink, purple and white.
They really are an educational tool and a bundle of fun at the same time – so learning the alphabet and counting becomes a treat for little boys and girls, rather than a difficult challenge.
Interlocking floor tiles are not just limited to those featuring letters and numbers – there are many other types available to buy which feature images of cars, boats, planes, buses, trains and other forms of transport. You can also get interlocking mats which feature various bird, fish, reptiles and other animals. Some come with no image, number of letter on them – instead they are plain in a variety of bright colours.
Safety is a key consideration and all EVA mats are made with non-toxic materials and colouring agents. The surface of the tiles can be hand washed, enabling parents to clean them easily.
It is best to keep your foam letters and numbers tiles out of direct sunlight or there is a risk of fading – thankfully some sets of tiles have the number or letter of on both sides, so they can be flipped if one side shows signs of fading or wear and tear from regular use.
Be careful not to place heavy items such as talbes and chairs, or other furniture, on these tiles are the foam they are made of suffer dents and indentations.
EVA tiles can be easily cleaned by wiping them down with cloth or mop, dampened with antibacterial household cleaner or mild child-safe soap or detergent. Don’t use bleach on EVA interlocking tiles as this can result in fading or damage.
Some parents opt to put the interlocking tiles in the washing machine if they become particularly grubby. In a nutshell these interlocking floor mats are very durable, child friendly and of high quality. The are best suited to children aged three and upwards.
There’s more information about this type of mat in our interlocking alphabet and numbers mats article.