Don’t miss these fun and creative magnatile ideas to add a dose of imagination to your next therapy session or play session at home!
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Magnatiles are more than just a fun toy—they’re a powerhouse for supporting your child’s development!
These versatile magnetic building tiles promote all kinds of developmental skills through hands-on play that spurs imagination and creativity.
By stacking, connecting, and creating, children challenge their visual skills, like spatial awareness and problem-solving, as they figure out how to construct stable structures. Language and social skills come into play as kids describe their designs or collaborate with friends to build together. Magnatiles can even encourage gross motor skills! Try placing pieces at the top of a set of stairs for kids to climb and retrieve, or build large-scale creations that require kids to climb up on a chair to reach! Manipulating the tiles also enhances fine motor skills like hand strength and coordination.
Most importantly, Magnatiles spark creativity, letting kids bring their ideas to life while learning through play. Whether for solo play or group activities, these tiles are a fantastic tool for child development!
If you’ve had these little magnetic gems for awhile now, you may be looking for new magnatile ideas to refresh your kids’ play with this classic toy. We’ve got you covered with our favorite ideas below.
And don’t miss these awesome Mini Magnetic PIP Tiles from Crayola! These are the perfect option for therapists who want to spark creativity and fun during their sessions without lugging around something that will weigh down their therapy bag! They would also be great for parents to bring along on a roadtrip or on a long flight to keep kids entertained.
Magnatile Ideas for Kids
Winning Combinations
Combine magnatiles with other magnetic items for some creative fine motor play (jingle bells, fridge magnets, etc.)
Vertical Surfaces
Our kids at The Treehouse love playing with magnatiles on our dry erase boards! Try playing on the refrigerator or even on a metal garage door!
Handwriting Practice
We love practicing spelling words and handwriting by writing on our magnatiles with dry erase markers! It’s easy to wipe off words and letters and you can use them to create words and sentences!
For Animal Lovers
Try combining magnatiles with toy animals to build a zoo. Our kids love creating different animal exhibits and then taking us on a zoo tour!
For Car Lovers
Combine magnatiles with toy cars to build roads, ramps, houses, garages and more.
DIY Marble Run
Make a ramp with an overturned baking sheet and place magnatiles on top to create a maze for marbles or small balls to run through.
DIY Bowling Alley
Make magnatiles into bowling pins! Place several square magnatiles flat on the floor. Stick a second magnatile to each one so that it stands up vertically. Roll a ball to knock down the vertical magnatiles!
Hexbug Challenge
Have kids build a maze for their Hexbugs to run through! You can even have races between two Hexbugs!
Visual Puzzles
Make a visual puzzle! Create different shapes and designs with magnatiles on paper. Trace the outline of each design with a marker or pencil. Remove the magnatiles and have kids fill in the blanks with the correct magnatiles.
Sticker Puzzles
Make DIY magnatile puzzles! Place a large sticker so that it covers two magnatiles (or use a printed picture and tape). Cut along the space between the two magnatiles to separate the sticker or picture into two pieces. Repeat to create several mini puzzles. Mix up the pieces and see if kids can put them back together correctly!
Sensory Bin Play
Place magnatiles into a sensory bin so kids can build their own cups and scoops, filling them up with dry rice or beans.
Muffin Tin Treasure Hunt
Hide small objects in the holes of a mini muffin tin and place a magnatile over each hole. See if kids can pull off each magnatile to discover what is hiding inside!
Find more fun block play ideas and the best block sets for kids!
And check out the Magnetic Mini PIP Tiles from Crayola in action here!
