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If you’re looking for a quality toy that encourages critical thinking and imagination, try out a set of magnetic building blocks. The premise is simple: they’re buildable, stackable tiles in simple geometric shapes and bright colors. Your kids can build 3D models of imaginary friends, invent complex palaces and buildings, or create sturdy structures.
The best: Magformers Basic Set Magnetic Building Blocks
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These magnetic tiles are designed with Neodymium Rare-Earth magnets, which means that although they are pricier than other magnetic sets, they have intense power. These tiles will always snap together and stick. A standard set comes with 30 pieces (with 18 squares and 12 triangles in rainbow colors), though you can also select other varieties, like the pretty pink and blue “Inspire” set or the classic combination in yellow and blue.
Larger kit: PicassoTiles 100 Piece Magnet Building Tiles
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This set comes with 100 pieces to build castles, figurines, and more. The set comes with five tile shapes in bright colors: two squares (big and small) and three sets of triangles. The magnetic pieces link together to become towers and walls. Bonus: they’re much more pleasant to step on than other plastic building toys.
Budget pick: Magblock Magnetic Blocks
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Need some inspiration? This set of magnetic tiles comes with a booklet with illustrations of possible creations: try making a ferris wheel, or a car in the shape of an animal. It comes with 120 total pieces. For the main building tiles, there are 34 triangular pieces, 36 squares, 2 pentagons, 2 hexagons, and 4 long triangles. These rainbow-colored pieces are safe and durable.