The best way to hold the reading blocks is to hold two adjacent blocks in place with one hand while the other hand turns the remaining block. Holding the blocks like this will keep them in place while children create new words. While the rods can be held by the end balls, the end balls are mainly designed to keep the blocks together on the rod. Since our blocks are made with completely solid wood, versus MDF or plastic, there will be natural variations to the cut of each individual block and how it fits together with its partnering blocks.