Magnetic constructors appeared on the market not so long ago, however, over several years they managed to gain widespread recognition as simple and interesting educational toys for children of different ages. Magnetic kits, like most other types of construction sets, are designed primarily for either boys' or neutral children's interests. However, many parents would like to find a set that is right for the girl.
The choice of such products is more modest, but if you approach the purchase with all responsibility, you can pick up a very good option.
For the little ones
Since the magnetic constructor is distinguished by the extreme simplicity of connecting parts, it practically has no age restrictions to the lower side. However, experts still do not recommend buying such products for babies under 1 year old. In infancy, children simply do not have enough hand motor skills to collect anything. But for a baby aged 1-3 years, such a set will be one of the best solutions. It will allow the child to construct various compositions and get acquainted with the interesting effect of magnetism.
Magnetic construction sets for children under 3 years old, like many other toys, are usually not classified by gender. (they do not have pronounced boyish or girlish features). In other words, parents can confidently choose any set recommended for children of this age. It will most likely consist of neutral magnetic sticks and metal balls connecting together. Among the famous manufacturers of such products, the brands Smartmax and Kribly Boo should be distinguished.
The recommendations on the packaging tell the consumer a lot, but the parents of young children are obliged to independently check how the kit details correspond to the declared age.
First of all, you need to think about the safety of the materials used. Of course, it's impossible to assess the environmental friendliness of plastic by eye, so you can ask the seller for the availability of safety certificates.
When choosing, the quality of workmanship should also be assessed. Parts should not have pointed ends, not to mention any mechanical defects. Finally, you need to pay attention to the size of the details. They need to be large enough so that they cannot be swallowed, placed in the nose or in the ear, as babies often try to do.
Besides, it is better to give preference only to trusted manufacturers and retail outlets. High quality requirements are reflected in the cost of such sets. However, you should not save on the safety of the baby.
For preschoolers
With age, the child develops and requires more and more complex tasks, which also affects the characteristics of toys. For children aged 5-7 years, the sets of constructors on magnets may already differ in gender. Although the differences are not so obvious and most of the magnetic kits are neutral, the range of available models is expanding somewhat.
The magnetic kit is traditionally considered to be plastic, but Genii Creation produces a wooden version of this kit. The kit is suitable for assembling a toy playground or other cute building with a simple design. This option is suitable for both boys and girls, since it does not have a pronounced sexual orientation.
The manufacturer's products are highly valued due to the extreme ease of assembly and the ability to place other toys in the finished "house". The set is relatively rarely criticized, and the only drawback is the high cost. The brand's products are not found in all stores and have no cheap Chinese counterparts.
The time of the Smartmax designers mentioned above has not passed yet, although the time has come to choose the harder sets. If the baby already has the simplest set of this brand, you can buy a set, which includes elements in the form of flower petals. Also on sale there is a set "Flower Palace", which includes not only the petals, but also the main elements. Alternatively, you can purchase the "Home Sweet Home" kit for assembling houses (for this, there are windows and doors).
Unlike the previous constructor, it is much easier to buy Smartmax. It is sold in almost all children's stores and costs a little less. Another pleasant bonus is the complementarity of all sets of this brand. Among the analogues, one can single out a high-quality Swiss Geomag with smaller details, which is suitable for children from 5-6 years old (but not for younger ones). This manufacturer often produces glowing constructors, which girls really like.
From preschool age, children can also assemble a constructor set by the very popular manufacturer Magformers. The brand is in such great demand that many cheaper Chinese counterparts have already appeared. Among them there are quite high-quality options (Mag Building and others), and goods of a not very high level.
Standard parts look like plastic geometric shapes in different colors, hollow inside. However, for babies of preschool age, kits like the "Princess Set" are also produced, allowing you to assemble a full-fledged palace for a little princess. Although the original is pricey, the set of dozens of parts is quite interesting. In addition, you can easily find a similar construction set in stores at a more affordable price.
For primary school age
After starting school, children are increasingly interested in complex assembly options. Often they perceive the constructor not as a game, but as an exciting process of creating something interesting. A rather high complexity and plausibility of the resulting craft comes to the fore. Therefore, magnetic designers are gradually receding into the background, giving way to block sets.
Nevertheless, for lovers of magnetic parts, suitable sets also exist. They are presented in the collections of most of the above mentioned manufacturers.
For the simulation of palaces, for example, several mutually compatible constructors from the same manufacturer can be used at once. The main thing is that at least one of them should include special details in the form of windows, doors, balconies and roofs.
For girls of school age, choose sets with a lot of details. However, it is worth considering the nature of the child. Active and restless schoolgirls are unlikely to like such a gift, because the assembly will take a lot of time. In addition, a complex assembly requires a high level of mental development. Therefore, if the child has not previously shown much interest in design, it is not worth buying such a set.
Large magnetic construction kits for assembling locks are sold in any children's store. They are also easy to find on the Internet, but it should be borne in mind that due to specific parts, kits from different manufacturers usually turn out to be incompatible with each other. Although even one large set may be enough for an interesting game.
The assembled palace can be used as a "dwelling" for dolls. And in the process of building such a “housing”, the baby will be able to develop a number of useful skills (imagination, fantasy, spatial thinking, coordination of movements, as well as an analytical mind). A set with a lot of details is also good because it allows a certain amount of modeling flexibility.
From the elements, you can collect not only what they are directly intended for, but also try to create something original.
You will learn more about magnetic constructors for girls in the following video.
