Magnetic building blocks like PicassoTiles are a popular toy and education tool for children. These magnetic tiles allow kids to explore concepts in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) through hands-on building and play. This guide will provide an overview of PicassoTiles magnetic blocks, their key features and benefits, and recommendations for maximizing their educational impact.
What are PicassoTiles Magnetic Building Blocks?
PicassoTiles are a brand of magnetic building tiles that use strong magnets to connect the blocks, allowing children to build creative 2D and 3D structures. The magnets easily attach and detach from each other, enabling dynamic and open-ended play.
PicassoTiles offers a variety of tile shapes and sizes, including squares, triangles, rectangles, trapezoids and special shapes like arched blocks. Tiles feature vibrant colors like red, blue, green, yellow and more. Some sets also include special alphabet, number, and animal inserts for educational play.
In addition to the standard PicassoTiles sets, there are also specialized sets like marble run tiles, race car tracks, and 3D puzzle cubes. With a nearly endless variety of tiles to choose from, kids can build anything they imagine – from castles and bridges to mazes and robotic creations.
Benefits of PicassoTiles Magnetic Building Blocks
PicassoTiles deliver a wide range of benefits that make them an ideal educational toy for children ages 3 and up:
1. Develop STEM and STEAM Skills
Building with PicassoTiles promotes critical STEM and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) skills including:
- Spatial reasoning and shape recognition
- Problem solving
- Fine motor control
- Early geometry, architecture and design concepts
- Basic physics principles like gravity, balance and stability
- Creativity and artistic expression
2. Hands-on Learning
PicassoTiles provide an engaging “minds-on, hands-on” learning experience. Kids learn best when they can actively explore ideas through play and manipulation. Magnetic blocks allow for this type of interactive discovery, which helps concepts stick.
3. Screen-Free Fun
In an increasingly digital age, PicassoTiles deliver fun through simple, creative play, without electronics or screens. This allows for more focus, imagination and interaction with others. Studies show playing with blocks helps develop social-emotional skills.
4. Educational Play
While fundamentally a toy, PicassoTiles “play” intrinsically incorporates key educational concepts. This blurring of recreation and learning allows children to pick up vital skills seamlessly while having fun.
Key Features of PicassoTiles Building Sets
All PicassoTiles deliver core benefits, but the various set sizes and designs offer different features:
Basic Sets
The smaller 27 or 42 piece sets make a great introductory PicassoTiles set. These include a range of standard tile shapes and colors for basic building activities.
Alphabet, Numbers and Animals
Larger, more advanced builder sets like the 102 piece include special alphabet letters, numbers (0-9) and animal shapes that can attach to regular blocks. This allows kids to reinforce literacy, counting and animal recognition skills into creative play.
Specialty Pieces
Some sets feature unique pieces like wheels, windows or people characters. These parts enable specialized structures like vehicles and houses to enhance developmental play.
Expansion Packs
For more advanced builders craving more variety, PicassoTiles offers add-on expansion packs with supplemental or theme-based tiles. Popular options include outer space, maritime, castle and robot themed tiles to spark additional ideas.
Compatibility
A key advantage of PicassoTiles is that all sets are compatible with one another. So you can combine tiles from basic sets, alphabet sets and expansion packs for even more creativity. Tiles use the same sized magnets and grid spacing to ensure proper connectivity regardless of the sets you use together.
Top 5 PicassoTiles Sets for Kids
With a diverse range of magnetic block set options available from PicassoTiles, here are 5 great starter sets to consider:
1. PicassoTiles 60 Piece Set
- 60 piece basic starter set
- Assortment of squares and triangles
- Vibrant colors like red, blue, yellow
- Great for ages 3+
Cost: $$
2. PicassoTiles 100 Piece Set with Alphabet, Numbers & Animals
- 102 total pieces
- Upper and lower case letters
- Numbers 0-9
- Animals like fish, butterflies and robots
- Recommended for ages 3+
Cost: $$$
3. PicassoTiles 12 Piece Mini Marble Run Set
- Specialized curved pieces
- Steel marbles included
- Early engineering introduction
- Choking hazard – Ages 6+
Cost: $$
4. PicassoTiles 31 Piece Geometry Set
- Playful geometry shapes
- Triangles, circles, squares, rectangles
- Bright colors & patterns
- Ages 3+
Cost: $$
5. PicassoTiles 50 Piece Space Shuttle Set
- Themed space pack
- Rocket and satellite pieces
- Alien crash site play scene
- Great for role playing adventures
- Ages 3+
Cost: $$
Getting the Most Out of PicassoTiles
While PicassoTiles sets provide inherent educational benefits through play, here are some tips to maximize their learning value:
Focus on Process Over Product
Emphasize the enjoyment and creativity of the building process rather than just the end result. Exploration and experimentation are key.
Ask Guiding Questions
While playing, ask occasional open-ended questions like “What other shape could we add here?” and “How can we make this stronger?”. This indirectly encourages critical thinking.
Design Challenges
Present fun building challenges like “Can we make one tall tower and one strong bridge?” Design criteria focuses building goals while allowing creativity.
Exhibit Creations
Display finished PicassoTiles creations proudly which boosts motivation and allows other children or family to appreciate them first-hand too.
Take Photos Over Time
Documenting structures through photos makes building more purposeful. You can revisit photos later and reflect on mastery of new skills.
Following this advice, alongside supervision for younger builders, will ensure an engaged, productive and most importantly, fun magnetic block building experience!
Final Thoughts on PicassoTiles Building Blocks
In closing, PicassoTiles offer children an entertaining yet meaningfully educational magnetic building block experience. Kids can explore early architecture concepts, art creation and STEM principles through hands-on play. With a diverse range of sets available, PicassoTiles engage preschool to early elementary ages with plenty of room for advanced building over time using added expansion pieces. Consider introducing these versatile building blocks to your kids to spark learning and development creatively.
Frequently Asked Questions About PicassoTiles
How do PicassoTiles compare to other magnetic building block brands?
PicassoTiles are regarded as high quality and cost effective magnetic tiles for sale. Their vibrant colors and variety of specialty pieces allow for comparable creative potential to pricier competitors. Strong magnets, design features and attention to quality match or exceed most major magnetic block brands.
What does a PicassoTiles set contain?
Basic PicassoTiles sets include a range of building shapes like squares, triangles, rectangles and trapezoids. Larger sets feature added alphabet letters, numbers, animals or unique themed pieces. Tiles measure 5.5 x 5.5 cm in size. Durable chrome steel spheres are included as marbles with select sets. Detailed contents are listed with each set.
How much do PicassoTiles cost?
PicassoTiles range considerably in price based on number of pieces and special parts. Basic sets start around $25. Mid-range sets cover $35 to $85. And more expansive packs with 100+ pieces and premium elements can range from $100 to $200+. However, costs per piece are very reasonable relative to comparable magnetic tiles. Frequent sales help offset costs further.
What ages are PicassoTiles sets suitable for?
Most standard PicassoTiles list ages 3+ or 4+. However, safety and fun depends somewhat on specific pieces, like marbles requiring supervision until ages 6+. Interest and capabilities also depends on the individual child. But their versatility engages preschool ages into elementary and even older if pursuing advanced building projects.
Can I add-on additional PicassoTiles to sets we already own?
Yes, a great advantage of PicassoTiles is that all sets are compatible with one another. So additional colors, shapes or specialty pieces can be added seamlessly alongside existing sets since the magnet size and grid spacing enables connectivity regardless of sets owned.
How do I incorporate STEM and STEAM learning concepts with PicassoTiles?
Focus play on engineering challenges requiring problem solving skills. Also explore artistic expression through sculpture creations, symmetry concepts with patterns, and early architecture ideas like multi-story houses. Ask questions about gravity experiments and stability factors.
What are the best tips for using PicassoTiles to develop literacy and numeracy skills?
Larger PicassoTiles sets with alphabet and number pieces allow kids to spell names and words through creative block buildings. Counting pieces, recognizing digits, and basic math operations can also be reinforced by asking related questions during magnetic tile play relating to set properties.