Guidecraft’s Magneatos…revisited

We  received this update on Guidecraft’s Magneatos from one of our imaginative  testers!  In this picture he has created a garage with  Magneatos- one of our all time favorite open-ended building sets for preschoolers.  If you’re looking for something fun and not structured, we highly recommend these sets. For a full review of this Platinum Award winning toy, click here. Our suggestion, put one of these sets in a basket in your family room…building with them is really fun, no matter how old you are!  Because there is no right or wrong way to play with these over-sized colorful magnetized pieces–they are also a great choice for kids with ADHD.

Open-ended building fun: Guidecraft’s Interlox

Guidecraft's Interlox

I’m big on things that you can put out on the family coffee table that everyone will enjoy.  Interlox from Guidecraft is just that kind of toy. If you were in a classroom in the 70s, you probably played with something that looked very similar.  The Interlox are pleasingly colorful plastic pieces that have notches on all sides- providing builders with an open-ended building opportunity.  They connect with relative ease- making this a good choice for 4s and up. While many kids are happy to follow directions for building LEGO or KNEX models, there’s something to be said about building whatever you heart dictates. There’s room here for trial and error.  For younger kids, this can start as a parent/child project–but chances are  your kids will be building independently before you know it. The 96 piece set gives you enough pieces to really make something fun.  We’re giving this set an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award. For the review of this toy and other building sets, visit www.toyportfolio.com.