Magnetic building blocks are colorful, imaginative toys that can inspire open-ended creativity in children as young as 12 months old. These handy toy blocks have a range of developmental benefits that make them a smart choice for parents and caregivers seeking high-quality toys for their kids. Read on to learn all about magnetic building blocks, from what they are to why they make the ultimate STEAM learning toy.
What Are Magnetic Building Blocks?
Definition: Magnetic building blocks are plastic construction toys that consist of colorful, geometric shapes that connect together via embedded interior magnets. The magnets create a satisfying “click” when pieces attach, allowing kids to build vertically and work on multi-layered 3D structures.
Unlike normal building blocks or legos, magnetic building blocks stick together to form creative constructions, with no connectors needed. Their magnetic force is strong enough to defy gravity and hold together large, inventive structures.
These toys are known by various names, including:
- Magnetic STEM toys – Emphasizing their educational qualities
- Magnetic construction toys – Describing their function
- Magnetic sets for kids – Defining their target demographic
No matter what you call them, magnetic building blocks offer open-ended, imaginative play in a tidy, frustration-free package.
Some popular magnetic building block brands include:
- Magformers – Known for their shape variety and STEAM-focused kits
- Guidecraft – Offer magnetic accessories like wheels and balls
- PicassoTiles – Budget-friendly sets with storage containers included
Key Features and Benefits
Magnetic building blocks have several standout qualities that make them exceptional developmental toys for young kids:
1. Allow Open-Ended Creativity
- Unlike kits or modeled sets, magnetic blocks are an open-ended creativity toy that allows children to construct anything they can imagine. This fosters flexible thinking.
2. Help Develop Motor Skills
- The process of connecting and pulling apart magnetic blocks helps improve fine motor skills and manipulative ability. This aids in dexterity and coordination.
3. Build Early STEAM Skills
- Playing with magnetic blocks introduces core STEAM concepts like shape and color recognition, spatial reasoning, balance and geometry and basics physics principles like magnetism. This makes them ideal educational toys for preschoolers on up.
4. Made of Safe Materials
- Many magnetic block sets are made from ABS plastic which is non-toxic and safe for kids. They also often have smooth, rounded edges to prevent injuries.
5. Offer Endless Play Variety
- From buildings to bridges to mosaic art projects, the play possibilities with magnetic blocks are endless. Kids won’t get bored easily thanks to limitless play potential.
In addition to sparking creativity and STEAM learning, magnetic blocks also provide sensory stimulation, encourage problem solving skills and collaboration when playing with others.
Types of Magnetic Building Blocks
While all magnetic building blocks operate on the same basic premise, connecting plastic shapes via embedded magnets, there are some variety when it comes to:
Shape and Size
- Basic Shape Sets – These contain simple shapes like squares, triangles, rectangles. Best for younger toddlers starting out.
- Advanced Shapes Sets – May include diamonds, trapezoids, pentagons and octagons suited for older preschool/school-aged kids.
- Tiny/Large Sets – Some brands offer micro blocks for more intricate building or giant blocks for bigger structures.
Themes and Accessories
- General Block Sets – Contain only geometric shape blocks in a variety of colors
- Themed Sets – May be tailored around concepts like transportation, animals, etc.
- Accessory Sets: Include unique pieces like windows, doors, wheels that enhance constructions.
Extender Pieces
- Some sets include magnetic extender rods which allow connecting structures side-by-side or adding height/depth.
Pay attention to age recommendations, as well as the number of pieces and type of components in the set.
Top Magnetic Building Block Brands
There are a variety of excellent magnetic toys brands available from retailers like Amazon and specialty toy stores. Here are some top manufacturers to consider:
Magformers
Magformers makes perhaps the most well-established magnetic building sets with their distinct triangle, square and pentagon blocks.
- Geometric shape variety – From 30 pieces to 100+ piece sets
- Themed sets – Princess, transportation, animals and more
- Clear plastic – Some sets allow color blending together
- Ages 3+ – More advanced than other brands
PicassoTiles
PicassoTiles offers budget-friendly magnetic blocks made of durable ABS plastic with storage containers.
- Affordable price – Great value sets under $50
- Detailed builds – Smaller sized blocks for intricate structures
- Portable cases – Blocks store neatly in plastic containers
- Ages 3+ – Good for both preschoolers and elementary ages
Playmags
Playmags makes unique clear-colored magnetic blocks that appear to float when connected.
- Vivid transparent pieces – Encourages color combination creations
- Different shapes/sizes – Variety from small accent to large builder pieces
- STEM learning – Includes activity cards with STEAM lesson ideas
- Ages 18 mos+ – Suitable for younger toddlers
With so many exceptional magnetic toys on the market, you can’t go wrong with brands like Magna-Tiles, Playmags, or Tegu when shopping for magnetic STEM toys.
Factors to Consider When Buying Magnetic Toys
Here are some key considerations when selecting magnetic building blocks:
- Age Range – Pay attention to manufacturer recommended ages, as magnetic toy sets vary in complexity.
- Number of Pieces – More pieces allow bigger, more intricate constructions.
- Shape Selection – Varied shapes encourage more creativity and problem solving skill building.
- Extender Rods – Allow connecting structures together into one mega creation.
- Storage – Look for sets with sorting trays or cases to keep all pieces neatly organized.
- Safety – Ensure any magnetic toys have smooth, round edges and are BPA- and lead-free.
- Durability – Seek out reputable brands using durable ABS plastic known to withstand rough toddler play.
Additionally, you’ll want to take into account your child’s interests, developmental age and type of play they gravitate toward most. More advanced builders and older kids may enjoy more complex block shapes for increased challenge.
Developmental Benefits of Magnetic Blocks
Open-ended magnetic building blocks offer numerous developmental upsides that make them far more than simply toys. Here’s a closer look at why they make exceptional educational toys for growing kids:
Spatial Skills & Geometry
Connecting magnetic blocks requires visualizing shapes in 3D and spatial reasoning to build balanced, towering structures. This strengthens important spatial-temporal skills. Understanding sides, vertices, faces and planes in shapes also builds early geometry skills.
Color & Shape Recognition
Identifying different colorful shapes and sorting/matching block pieces helps young children distinguish differences in size, design and color. This aids in important categorization and pattern recognition abilities key to math.
Fine Motor Dexterity
The precise motions needed to handle and construct various magnetic pieces assists in building fine motor strength and coordination. This helps develop manual dexterity and manipulative skills needed for later writing tasks.
Problem Solving & Critical Thinking
There are endless design possibilities when imagining what to build with magnetic blocks, requiring kids to continually create and problem solve ways to make inventive structures. This promotes flexible thinking, an asset for STEAM careers.
In short, magnetic building toys deserve a place in every playroom given their ability to organically build a wide spectrum of skills in an engaging, screen-free way.
Learning Themes with Magnetic Toys
Another advantage of magnetic building blocks is these toys can target learning concepts across various educational themes when used intentionally.
Preschool teacher Amanda Green says she uses them to teach:
“I use magnetic blocks to teach numbers and counting, patterns and attributes like size and color comparisons. We also group them into categories and Graph their favorite colors.”
Some learning themes you can intentionally target with magnetic blocks include:
- Numbers & Counting
- Size Sorting & Comparing
- Symmetry & Balance
- Patterns & Sequencing
- Colors, Shapes & Grouping Similar Items
- Adding & Subtracting Quantities
This versatility makes open-ended magnetic toys helpful learning tools both at home and also in Montessori or classroom settings.
Best Ages for Magnetic Building Toys
Magnetic building blocks suit a wide age range, making them a toy kids can enjoy across various developmental stages. Here’s a closer look at appropriate ages:
1 Year Olds – Large, basic shape magnetic blocks with smooth rounded edges make great sensory toys for babies and younger toddlers to handle. At this age, supervised play is safest.
2-3 Year Olds – Preschoolers can start following patterns with magnetic toys to hone color and shape recognition. Look for medium-sized sets withstorage cases.
4-6 Year Olds – Pre-K and Kindergarten kids have the fine motor skills to start constructing their own elaborate structures. More complex block shapes present an engaging challenge.
Of course, all ages enjoy the open-ended play possibilities magnetic toys provide! Adding accessories like magnetic gears or wheeled pieces maintains interest as kids enter their school years and seek added complexity.
Fun Ways to Use Magnetic Blocks
Because the play options are so broad, magnetic building blocks maintain their appeal as kids grow. Aside from freeform building, try these fun magnetic block activities:
- Stack them as high possible then watch them crash in a magnetic “quake”
- Create scenes – Build castles, bridges, houses or anything then add figurines
- Follow pattern cards and replicate images shown solo or with a partner
- Print coloring pages featuring structures to mimic with magnetic blocks
- Use them on magnetic playboards for added stability building vertically
- Take on block building challenges – Who can create the tallest tower?
- Build letters, numbers and shapes – Spell their name, age or simple words
Mixing it up with guided play activities stretches magnetic toys into later ages and developmental stages in refreshing ways.
Top Picks: Best Magnetic Building Toys
With so many superb magnetic block sets to pick from, here are some top rated options to consider across various age groups:
Ages 1-2
- Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32 Piece Set – Vibrant transparent blocks perfect for toddlers starting to combine colors while building.
- Playmags 100 Piece Set – An extra large set with an assortment of colorful shapes for creative exploring.
Ages 3-4
- PicassoTiles 60 Piece Set – This STEM building set has it all for preschoolers – triangles, squares, rectangles and a storage case.
- Magformers Wow Set – Eye-catching neon transparent pieces and STEAM activity guide let imagination flourish.
Ages 5-6
- Magna-Qubix 72 Piece Building Set – Older kids will love these unique cube and bar magnetic pieces that make geometric creations.
- Think Fun Magnetiles Building Set – Colorful hexagons promote advanced spatial skills.
Ages 7+
- Playmags 3-in-1 Builder Set – Extender pieces allow connecting multiple structures together in dynamic ways. Great for group collaboration.
- Crazy Arcs by Tegu – Uniquely shaped, smooth wooden blocks present an added magnetic challenge.
Review the various magnetic building toys available on Amazon here to find just the right set for your little builder!
Keeping Magnetic Blocks Organized
One challenge parents may face is keeping all the small pieces together when playtime is over. Brands like Playmags solve this by packaging sets in handy storage bins.
Additional tips to keep magnetic toys organized include:
- Invest in wall-mounted storage shelves to display sets
- Label each set’s bin so kids can easily sort pieces after use
- Have kids tally pieces as they put them away to hone counting skills
- Store sets together on a magnetic playboard layered between pieces
Establishing consistent cleanup habits early makes maintaining magnetic toys much easier longterm.
Ensuring Safety With Magnetic Blocks
While today’s high-quality magnetic building sets from reputable brands are designed to stringent safety standards, it’s wise to follow reasonable safety precautions when little ones play with small toys. General tips include:
- Supervise children under 3 during play
- Verify any magnetic toys are BPA-, lead- and phthalate-free
- Avoid toys with loose magnets not fully enclosed in pieces
- Check blocks have smooth edges and round corners
- Monitor kids don’t place loose blocks or toy parts in mouths
Following basic safety guidelines lets kids reap all the play and learning perks magnetic building blocks provide without worries!
Wrap Up
As this guide outlines, magnetic building toys offer much more than just entertainment for little hands – they supply critical building blocks for developing minds as well.
Offering endless play potential from toddlerhood through early elementary years, magnetic blocks inspire open-ended creativity while organically strengthening a spectrum of skills from fine motor ability to spatial reasoning and problem solving skills.
Paired with their many eye-catching colors, unique shapes and storage cases plus durable designs able to withstand exuberant play, it’s clear why magnetic building blocks like Magna-Tiles and PicassoTiles sets rate as gold-standard toys kids adore.
So if you’re hunting for just-right playthings to build early STEAM abilities or simply spark imagination through quality toy time, be sure to add vibrant magnetic building blocks your kids are sure to click with to your cart today!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best magnetic toys for toddlers?
For toddlers ages 1-3, excellent magnetic toys include Magna-Tiles Clear Colors, Playmags Jumbo Sets, and PicassoTiles plastic block sets. Focus on larger pieces with smooth rounded corners. Stay nearby during playtime to ensure safety.
What age are magnetic building toys appropriate for?
Magnetic building blocks suit kids 12 months to 8 years old. Look for larger pieces for babies and toddlers starting at 12 months. Around preschool age, kids can handle small, more complex shapes to create elaborate constructions.
How do magnetic toys teach STEAM skills?
Magnetic building toys are considered exceptional STEM learning toys because they inherently teach science, technology, engineering, arts, and math skills. Spatial reasoning, shape recognition, architecture basics, geometry, and physics principles like magnetism are just some of the major educational benefits.
Why choose magnetic building blocks over other toys?
Unlike regular building block sets or modeled kits, the ability for magnetic blocks to stick together vertically enables far more creativity. Kids are limited only by their imaginations, rather than manual dexterity. This opens the door to critical thinking, problem solving, and cooperation with others—all vital skills.
Are bigger magnetic toys better for younger kids?
For very young toddlers and preschoolers, bigger magnetic toy pieces are ideal. Large magnetic blocks minimize choking hazards allowing kids to handle pieces with greater stability as they build fundamental fine motor skills. Once manual dexterity improves around ages 4-5, introducing smaller magnetic STEM toys adds challenge.