The wood block may be the oldest musical instrument known to man, given that it would have been possible for any civilization to have constructed and played this idiophonic instrument even before the Bronze Age. Even certain primate species from the animal world have been witnessed to beat on hollowed wooden logs similar to it. East Asian music uses a variety of wood blocks ranging from small hand-held instruments to enormous temple blocks which may be sounded by swinging a large log against them. The IQ Plus Wood Block can create different harmonics by striking the block at different places along its shell. Children can experiment with the different sounds created by hitting the different spots on the block. Playing with IQ Plus wooden block can help children achieve in developing a sense of rhythm, reinforce hand-eye coordination, improve motor skills, and develop muscle tone in the hands and arms, not to mention have a great deal of fun while doing so! IQ Plus Multi-Tone Wood Block Features: Made of hand-selected environmentally friendly rubber wood with no sharp edges. Comes with a wooden mallet included.