Archive for 'Construction & Blocks & Models'

Good use of brain power
My boys really enjoy this set. As with all sets you could really use more pieces to build bigger and larger products but we are very happy with this set.

Awesome fun but maybe not for everyone
We received a box labeled special edition with 643 pieces and 25 designs. All the pieces were accounted for and there were a few extras of the smaller components too. We built the super cool crane which used up almost all of the parts (hint: build this first if you think you will lose pieces over time). Open play is possible but there is so much to be learned about the parts from the models themselves.

There are some adults for whom I'd never recommend this toy because of the need for patience, attention to detail, and nimble fingers. Mistakes will happen and skills will develop for greater efficiency in building. If you've got the time though, even my toddler spent most of the day in rapt attention, being a good assistant, experimenting with the constructed mechanisms, and cheering me on. These are really great exercises for spatial visualization, understanding physics, and for the youngest folks... counting! To that end though, it'd be nice if additional tools were included to make this more of a shared versus solo activity. I was also disappointed that there is no ordering form for replacement parts.

I never had an erector set as a child but these pieces seem pretty solid. It is possible to over tighten and thus strip the threads off the plastic pieces.

Very Good, But Not Your Father's Erector Set
I bought this for our 10 year old son who is very fond of building and/or assembling anything. The set arrived in good condition and we haven't discovered any missing parts. He was quite impressed with the package and did find the assembly work a bit more challenging than his previous experience with Lego models. More than a few times he had to backtrack in the directions to get it right.
A couple of caveats: If you are recalling an Erector set from your youth, this is probably not going to match it. Keep in mind that the 600 plus pieces include hundreds of screws, nuts, spacers, and washers, so the actual construction metal looks a bit paltry. Secondly, the pieces are not formed as were the sets of old. These pieces are flat and smooth whereas in the older sets they were formed with ridged edges. One thing those interlocking edges did was allow 2 pieces to be fastened with 1 screw/nut set. I'm also not certain free-form building is going to be as robust an experience with this set as I recall from the one I owned as a boy. All of that said, our 10 is quite impressed with it, which I guess is the main objective.

Perfect for busy boys!
My 9 year-old son received this set for Christmas. Here we are 2 months later and he is still playing with it. Great value for children with an active imagination. I love that there are instructions to build multiple vehicles and all of the parts work together.

Good
My Children were excited to build things but the switch on the motor quickly broke (was not made of good quality). Without the motor the interest was lost and the value was lost. Not impressed with the plastic parts as they are not good quality. The rest of the set is fine.

Love them!
We've had these blocks nearly a year, and they are a huge hit with both of my kids! They are slightly heavy if you were to try and carry the entire box of them around the house, but the wooden box they come in is great for storage, and sturdy also. My only 'complaint' is that with the kids getting older (and 3 of them!) we may need to purchase another set sometime. They are super durable too...highly recommend them!

Great for all ages
I purchased these blocks for my Sons birthday. I had a homemade set when I was young so I was concerned about the quality and durability of the wood. After inspection I was very impressed with the quality and these were even better! I think Dad(me)might have just as much fun with these as son ;-)

We love these blocks!
These were a gift for my son who enjoys building with any kind of blocks. These are very nice blocks that stack easily. The box is heavy they are stored in, but you have to expect that since the blocks are so large. Overall, we love these blocks and would recommend them to anyone who has a child who likes to build.

Mom of twins
I was happy with this product over all. The design on it and none of the blocks were rough or had any edges that felt like it might come apart and leave slivers in the skin. That was my main concern besides my boys throwing them at each other. I have twins that are two years of age and they love these blocks. I felt the price was decent for the quality and quantity plus i couldnt find anything like this in stores, I had been searching for anything they could build with that wasnt small enough to put in there mouths and the huge lego sets come with like 6 large pieces and to buy two of them would be pricey and the pieces wouldnt be enough to satisfy my two boys cause they would fight over them. So over all i personally love this item and it comes in handy for me cause there is enough for the two of my boys to play with together and it helps them learn to balance and stack pieces as they grow cause this kind of toy can stick with them over the years unlike many others.

60 piece unit blocks
You need to buy two sets..one is not enough.
The product has smooth edges, large pieces and very sturdy.

The Best Toy Ever!!
Magna-Tiles are such a wonderful toy. They are more than a toy-they are truly educational and versatile. Eveyone loves to use them from myself (a senior citizen) to my adult children to my grandchildren (5 of them - ages 10,9,7,4 and 1 years. My wife is a kindergarten teacher and will use them in her class this next year. We will certainly be purchasing more. Thanks

Fantastic
What a wonderful toy. My grandson builds intricate things...including a ferris wheel...and uses every tile. He is four years old! I am so happy to find this excellent toy for my grandson's birthday!! So creative!

Wonderful Toy
My boys are ages 2 and 4. We have two 100 piece sets and are getting a 3rd. This toy has paid for itself many times over. I love the fact that they can sit and play with it together. While they are playing they talk and plan together. They play with this toy at least twice or three times a day, it could be for 45 minutes to an hour at a time. The tiles are durable -they have definitely been tested in my house and they are yet to break. I highly recommend this toy... you won't have to buy toys for a while after getting these!

the best toy ever!
My 3 year old daughter LOVES these and can't get enough of them! My husband and I also really enjoy playing with them - it's our go-to toy when we all play together. They are very sturdy and totally safe. The magnets are inside the tiles, so they can't come out. We have an infant as well, so we were worried about having magnets around her. The translucent colors are great because you can put things inside what you build and still see them. I'm a geometry teacher, so obviously I love them and can create lots of cool shapes and polyhedra with the tiles. My husband is an artist and he made a shark complete with a top fin - it really looked like a shark, too! I can't say enough good things about this product. I do recommend the 100 piece set because 32 pieces just isn't enough, especially if you have a bunch of kids that want to play with the tiles at the same time. Well worth the money - your kids will get hours of educational play out of this!!

Love them!
My daughter LOVES these! Actually, all my kids (10, 8 and 4) love these. My 4 and 8 yr olds could spend hours creating and playing with them. It is fun to see what they come up with. It usually has something to do with a home for a little animal or a spaceship of some sort. I bought them because they are so popular at my daughter's preschool and she kept talking about how she played with them at school. Highly recommend.