With two kids of my own, a niece, a nephew, and ever increasing birthday party invitations from my girls’ school friends, I’m always on the lookout for new toys. But I know from hard experience to look for quality toys that will last. I’m looking for toys that kids will play with for months and years, not just a few days before they’re forgotten or broken.
I’d heard of Magformers magnetic building sets before, but I’d never seen them in person, so when we were asked to try them out for ourselves I jumped at the chance. The kids were pretty excited too!
Instead of physically locking together like other building sets, these BPA-free HQABS plastic construction shapes contain rare-earth neodymium magnets that attach on any side, not just top and bottom. Neodymium magnets are the strongest type of permanent magnet commercially available, and they allow us to build pretty much anything we want with them. The magnets are safely and securely enclosed in small channels that allow them to freely rotate inside so they always connect and never reject.
We received two sets to try. The 124 piece Math set is part of Magformers’ Educational Line and comes with 124 magnetic shapes, 39 printed plastic number cards, and a math workbook. The workbook has exercises and activities for teaching shape and pattern recognition, numbers and fractions, geometry, symmetry, and 3D spatial awareness. I thought this was a fantastic way of keeping Tee’s skills sharp over summer vacation.
It’s really cool how the pieces just snap together. 13 different shapes in bright primary and secondary colours provide lots of opportunities for fun and creative building. Each piece is a different colour on the reverse side so there are tons of colour combo options.
We also received the 100 piece Imagine set in pinks, purples, and turquoise. This set comes with 15 different shapes including some neat curved pieces and two rechargeable LED light-up tiles (USB cable included) which were fun to add into our structures.
Personally, I’m not crazy about the idea that girls need their toys to be pink, but mine were just happy to add new colours and shapes into their play. All the sets and pieces are compatible so we just dumped them into one big bin and got busy building.
Magformers are one of our favourite toys right now. They’re fun and colourful and the hollow shapes are easy for even the littlest fingers to manipulate. Playing with them can be as simple or as advanced as your child’s developmental level. My three-year-old likes to stack them, count them, and create simple shapes. My five-year-old builds three-dimensional figures. Even hubby and I like to play with them. They’re just so much fun!
We shot this quick video of hubby making an icosahedron – a 20 sided polyhedron. (Apologies for the quality. Yes, my video camera sucks but it’s all I’ve got right now.)
I love that playing with these engages mathematical and scientific thought, creativity, deductive reasoning, and spatial awareness. STEM skills (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) are vital to any child’s future, and Magformers are a fantastically creative way to introduce these skills. Most of all, they’re fun!
Win a Set of Magformers!
This giveaway is linked up with the Looking Forward to Fall Giveaway Hop, hosted by Viva Veltoro and Lindsey Blogs. After entering here, scroll down to see all the other giveaways worth at least $25!
Magformers is generously giving one of my readers their choice of either of the sets that I reviewed: the 100 piece Inspire set or the 124 piece Math set. Enter to win in the widget below. This giveaway is open to residents of Canada and the US, 18+. All entries will be verified.
While youβre here, check out my other open giveaways on my Giveaway Page!
Disclosure: I received sample items for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ. This post contains affiliate links. This West Coast Mommy is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. I will receive a commission if you purchase through my link, at no additional cost to you. This income helps pay for the operating costs of my website β thank you for your support! So Easy Being Green, Viva Veltoro, and the Looking Forward to Fall participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.
The Safari Set looks like a lot of fun. My little cousins love animals.
CRESCENT BEACH
Haha! Oops! I meant to say that I’d pick the Magnets in Motion 32 piece set for my youngest, and the Brain Set for my step son!
My kids would love the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set!
My grandson would love the XL cruisers car set!
XL Cruisers Car Set is a great set for kids.
My daughter would love the super brain set. My husband too!
My grandson would love to have the 83 piece set
I would also love to have the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set.
I think my LO would be very pleased with theMagnets in Motion 22 Piece Power Set
I think My Nephews would love to build their own RC car , so i would love to get the the RC Custom Set , they can build in a bunch of ways , would be so cool
My son would like the Forest Friends
I think my boys would love the dinosaur set or the light show set.
Super brain set
My kids would love the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set.
My granddaughter would love the Forest Set. These sets are very cool and I will definitely be buying one or two as Christmas presents this year.
I bet my sons would also love either one of the magnets in motions sets, the construction cruiser or emergency cruiser sets.
My 3 nephews would love the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set
I like the ‘Magnets in Motion-32 Piece set.’ This looks like the sort of set my oldest great grandchild would like to play with and enjoy. I think this would be a very interesting set.
Another set I would get her is the Safari set or the Forest Friends set since she’s into animals.
I like the Deep Sea Set
I think the Super Brain Set would be fantastic for mine!
My grandson would enjoy the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set.
She would love the Dinosaur Set
she would really like the Magnets in Motion 22 Piece Power Set
I know my kid would like Gears in Motion. Thank you
My son would love the Super Brain Set!
I like the double light show one the best but they all look really cool and would be alot of fun. Great for learning.
I’d love any of the sets with gears like this one — Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
the little guys would like the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set
My grandkids will want the xl cruisers car set
My grandkids will want the xl cruisers car set.
I’d like to get the Light Show set π
My daughter would love the safari set!
I like the Magnets in Motion 61 piece!
These look like a lot of fun. I think my boys would really like the R/C custom set so they can build vehicles and drive them around.
Would love the magnets in motion set
we love magformers! would love another set!
Since my grandson loves jungle animals, I’d love to have their Safari Set. so cool! Thank-you. π
Magnets in Motion Gear set is what would get a lot of use in this house π
Ive never heard of these toys and after reading ur blog i want to buy these for my kiddies they look like so much fun I like the rc set and the gears set and math set but I really love all of them im not the mommy who likes all these special build kits where u have to build this and that i like the free play and mixing all together and using our imagination to build amazing things would love to win a set ?
Definitely the Dinosaur set. Ben loves Dinosaurs!
My two boys would really enjoy the Power Construction Set I’m sure! Looks fun, great colors and who doesn’t love Construction Vehicles?
Magnets in Motion 61 Piece Gear Set
The Magnets in Motion Gear Accessory Set is really cool.. gets my daughter to think about engineering π
My son would love the rc set!! He loves anything cars related π Too fun!!
the Landmark Set!
I think my kids would love the Magnets in Motion 83 Piece Power Set.It looks awesome!
Our girls would so enjoy the Super Brain set!
My nephew would keep busy with Magnets in Motion. He can sit for hours and play.