Do your children enjoy playing with Magnetic Tiles? We've had a small set of Magnetic Tiles for years however Otto (pictured) received another set for his fourth birthday. 🎂 He can do so much more building with this extra set, it's really opened up new ideas and new creations! 

Magnetic tiles can help to develop:

• concentration and focus 
• critical thinking
• problem-solving skills
• creativity
• visual discrimination skills
• geometry skills
• patterning skills
• coordination
• independent play.

Most of all we like to use magnetic tiles for open-ended play. But I believe in getting the most out of our materials, rotating toys and presenting them in new and interesting ways. Here are a few new ways that we've been using our Magnetic Tiles.

I printed out a few of the Magnetic Tiles Idea Cards 3D Creative Designs. With the new blocks Otto can make most of these designs, but not in the exact colours (we don't have enough tiles of each shape and colour). Otto loves robots so this 3D design card has been a hit!

This was challenging as Otto couldn't work out how to put the robot arms on, they kept on falling off. But with some problem-solving skills, he got it eventually!! 

What an amazing robot!

Magnetic Tiles are fantastic for teaching geometry skills. While the child can learn these skills through playing with the tiles, we tried these Can You Build... cards. They are more intentional in teaching geometry. 

Can you build a hexagon?

A trapezoid?

Yes! 

These cards can be used by a range of ages and can be presented individually or together! All of the Can You Build... cards are available (for free download with email sign up) at Sandbox Academy.

Magnetic Tiles look spectacular on the light table. Here Otto followed the card to make a star! 

How about Magnetic Tiles on the fridge door, or on the side of the washing machine, the door of the dishwasher, on the side of a metal cabinet?

Here I've presented one card and the exact number and shape of tiles needed to make that shape. It's an invitation Otto can't resist. 🦖

The cards I've put on the fridge are a part of the Magnetic Tiles Idea Cards: 2D Creative Designs set. 

How about Magnetic Tiles to support literacy development? There are many ways to use these Lower Case Alphabet Cards.

On the light table. Here Otto has made an 'o' but these look useful for also teaching patterning skills. 

How about an 'f'. We can present the lower case alphabet cards in a basket with some Magnetic Tiles. 

This was fun and Otto was definitely interested, although I will need to rotate the letters to keep his interest.  

Finally, Magnetic Tiles are fun to use when teaching colour theory.  🌈

Resources: 

We use a combination of the Magnetic Tiles Construction Set (AU)(c/o Modern Teaching Aids) and Connetix sets. We also use Magformers (not pictured). Magnatiles also come highly recommended. 

Our round light table is from Educating Kids (AU)(similar light table US here).

The following cards I've printed at home from Teachers Pay Teachers:

• Lower Case Alphabet Cards
• Magnetic Tiles Idea Cards: 2D Creative Designs (includes images we used on the fridge)
• Magnetic Tiles Idea Cards: 3D Creative Designs (includes Robot image in the very top picture)

Can You Build... cards are available to download for free at Sandbox Academy (email sign up is required). 

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