Imagination and creative play go hand-in-hand with brain development and STEM toys are the perfect way to introduce kids to creative exploration to help them develop a love for learning. Magformers is one of our favorite STEM toy brands and the Magformers Backyard Adventure set is fun for preschoolers and school-age kids alike. With 61 pieces included, the possibilities are endless and pieces are designed in a way that makes it easy for little fingers to build and connect without frustration.
Why We Love It
Magformers has been at the top of STEM toy lists for a long time for very good reason. The educational benefits are many and it has truly kept our kids engaged for hours on end. In our pediatric clinic, it's one of the most requested activities. There are so many ready-made ways to work on language skills, critical thinking, and problem solving that we find we can pull this set out with a wide age span and target relevant goals with it. (Suggested language practice ideas shared below!) The sturdy pieces are great for kids who may play a little rough and the light up flower is an exciting surprise for them to discover.
This set includes:
- 14 Triangles
- 8 Squares
- 2 Rectangles
- 6 Square Inner Circles
- 1 Pentagon Arch
- 2 Circles
- 8 Plates
- 2 Walls
- 1 Ladder
- 4 Windows
- 1 Tree
- 1 Swing
- 2 Chairs
- 1 Light Up Flower
- 1 Elephant Slide
- 1 Minibot
- 1 Maggie
- 1 Max
- 1 Bar
- 1 Seesaw
- 1 Light Up Fireplace
- 1 Mantle
We love that it includes a step-by-step educational booklet for ideas and instructions that lends itself well to problem solving and critical thinking activities. Our kids seem to equally like following the booklet ideas and creating their own designs. Since each geometric shape contains magnets that never reject, kids can hear a helpful click to know that shapes are secure. As an added plus, the magnetic features of this set makes it a snap for clean up and storage! Magformers recommends this set for ages 3 and up.
There are an endless amount of possibilities as far as targeting language skills goes. Here are a few easy ideas to incorporate into creative play...
1. Labeling Attributes: Ask your child to request pieces by naming shapes and colors as they build.
2. Sequential Order: Decide on a design and use temporal words (e.g., first, next, last) to explain how to build it. Model for your child first, then ask them to retell!
3. Preposition Use: Once the design is built, practice identifying and using prepositions by placing the characters in different positions around the building. (e.g., in back of, in front of, on top, next to, in, on, etc.)
4. Pronoun/Verb Use: Ask your child to tell what characters are doing as you use your imagination during pretend play. (e.g., He is swinging., She is sliding., They are playing on the seesaw.)
Where to Purchase
Magformers sets can be found at big box stores such as Target, FAO Schwartz and Barnes and Noble. You may also use their dealer locator site to find a location near you!
Disclaimer: The product in this post were provided by Magformers. As always, our posts are our own opinions.