Magformers come in a variety of sets, so your family can choose the one that's most appropriate for your child's age and interests. They can be used to create anything from simple shapes to complex models, and as such, start to teach older toddlers and kids about the basic principles of physics and engineering. This is particularly fun for older kids who may be aging out of standard tower-building abilities offered via other magnetic tiles like Magna-Tiles. The important difference? Because of the placement of the magnetics - on the exterior edges - Magformers are better suited for creating 3D shapes and structures. Like Magna-Tiles, Magformers delivers a STEM toy that harnesses the power of magnets to help kids use their imagination to build all kinds of structures. (Any seasoned parent knows you can never have too many magnetic tiles!) Other options aren't compatible, but offer something unique - like wooden materials, expanded colors or the ability to make 3D structures. Some of the best alternatives to Magna-Tiles are compatible with the original and only serve to expand on play potential. 'When you have multiple children playing together, it can help with social skills, whether in the form of collaborating, turn-taking or learning patience while they wait.'īut while we enthusiastically recommend Magna-Tiles, they aren't the only option out there for parents and caregivers who hope to offer this style of play at home or in the classroom.

'Magna-Tiles can help foster creativity, confidence and independence as kids explore and build more,' says Rothman. Magna-Tiles are great for a host of reasons, most notably because they can age with your child and span many years of play that promotes gross motor development, spatial recognition, problem-solving and more, says Rachel Rothman, the chief technologist and executive technical director at the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she oversees toy testing. There are so many truly great building toys out there, some of which have been beloved by parents and kids alike for decades.

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