I have always thought that those little Magnetix were a fun toy, but unfortunately they can cause a fatal intestinal injury should the magnets be swallowed.
My friend Wishy (thanks again Wishy!) told me about these Guidecraft toys. They are giant magnetic rods and balls. Kids can make cool structures without danger of choking on or swallowing little rods and balls like those found in the sets for older kids.
This seems like a great construction toy for younger children, or for households with a baby who constantly seeks out tiny objects.
There sets with different numbers of pieces to fit different budgets. I have shown here the set for ages 3 and up. But there is also a toddler set, and a slightly smaller-sized set (but not choking-sized small) for older children, ages 4 and up.
For more variety, you can even get curvy Magneatos and glow-in-the-dark sets too!
A 2006 Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award Winner.
award winner, brands, construction toy, Guidecraft, Toy Recommendations
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award-winning toy, construction toys, Guidecraft, Magneatos, Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Toy Recommendations, Toy Recommendations
It is amazing how amusing crawling through tunnels to a secret house/fort/spaceship/etc. can be.
This tunnel set is nice because it allows for tea parties and hanging out in the center section (plus Mom can check on what is going on through the upper viewing window). The whole set packs away flat in its carry bag for storage under a bed, or in a closet.
The minus is that it can be a bit of a pain folding and securing the three, extremely short ties on each tunnel in order to pack it away. Tying without making knots is a problem. I bought some double-sided velcro straps which I use instead and I can now quickly pack it all away without frustration.
Of course, a couple of cardboard boxes and a table covered with a blanket can be just as fun too, not to mention cheaper…but boxes don’t store as nicely!
I bought this for my construction-toy loving son for his 5th birthday, and so far it has been a big hit. His 6 year-old sister enjoys it too.
They make “creatures” (this set comes with several different kinds of eyes, wings, and feet), houses, roads, and other complex objects that only a 5 year-old could understand.
The pieces are plastic, but seem very durable. The colors are bright and fun. Everything fits together very easily so no help from Mom is required (a definite plus!).
Kid K’nex is designed for younger children. The pieces are larger than the ordinary K’nex sets (labeled age 5 and up). Amazon lists the recommended age for this set as 36 months - 7 years, and I would say that it is probably pretty accurate.
There are other sets available too. We might be adding to our collection on a future birthday!
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