Category: Magnet tiles

It’s no secret that young children love to play and mess around. Whether they’re running around on a playground, playing with dolls, or building with construction sets, they love to keep busy. Numerous studies over the years have shown that children need this time to play as a part of their development and learning. Those who play more tend to be happier and more developed by the time they begin preschool or kindergarten.


Research done by Argos, a retail group, further defines the importance of playtime: more than 60% of adults who now work in design-heavy jobs like architecture and design, played with toys like building blocks when they were children. Along the same lines, another study showed that 66% of those working in math-related jobs, like banking and accounting, liked playing with puzzles as children. Similarly, those who played with toys where they created stories, like you would with dolls, tended to be more creative as they aged.


The toys that kids play with during those key years of development play a large part in the rest of their lives, thus proving that playtime is incredibly important for young children. Three to six year olds should be playing with things that have them solve problems, like puzzles with 12 to 20 pieces, blocks that snap together, magnets for kids, collections and other small objects they can sort, etc. It teaches them key skills, like how to sort by length, width, height, shape, color, smell, quantity, and other features. Magnets for kids, building blocks, and construction sets can be incredibly helpful in their development.


While playtime is a time for children to have fun and be a kid, it is also a key piece in their learning and development, both before they begin school and after. Many parents restrict playtime on the basis that they need to learn in a certain way — like from books — but that is overlooking just how much childrens toys play a part in that learning. So encourage your kids to get out there and have fun! They’ll learn without even realizing it.

Parents often want what is best for their children, and that extends from education to play. While video games and apps have their place for learning, most parents worry about their children spending too much time in front of a TV or computers. And most kids do — getting an average of seven-and-a-half hours of screen time per day! As a result, parents who want to help their children grow and develop at a young age may struggle to find appropriate educational toys for their kids.

The good news for parents and kids alike is that there are more options out there. Some creative toys for children allow kids not only to get some free play time but to practice solving problems. For instance, using blocks that snap together or magnetic building toys can actually have numerous benefits for kids.

How do creative toys for children help kids develop their problem solving and critical thinking skills? Here are three of the most surprising benefits when it comes to educational toys for children:

1. Free play helps kids learn. When children have unstructured playtime, they actually get the chance to learn valuable skills. To get children to learn more and to improve their well-being, parents should aim for longer uninterrupted periods of at least 45 to 60 minutes of spontaneous play for their kids; however, even 15 minutes will give kids the chance to play and learn. Using educational toys, like magnetic construction sets or puzzles, is one method parents can use to encourage free play.

2. Creative toys for children can encourage early learning and brain development. Although the human brain grows until about age 18, children’s brains reach about 90% of their adult weight by the time they are eight years old. The early years are some of the most important, and toys can play a huge role in brain development. For example, three- to six-year-olds benefit from toys that get them to solve problems: puzzles of about 12 to 20 pieces, block and magnetic tiles that snap together, and even collection of objects grouped by color, shape, and other features. Some of this early learning can get kids to count at an early age.

3. Educational toys promote lifelong learning and success. Children who play with blocks, magnets, and other educational creative toys have a better chance of working in math-related jobs when they get older. For instance, 66% of adults in math-related roles, like bankers and accountants, enjoyed playing with puzzles when they were kids. Meanwhile, 60% of adults who know work as architects, designers, or in other design-related fields, like building blocks and other stacking toys. While there’s no telling which industry a child will choose early on, toys that are both fun and educational can give them a good head start for the future.

Which toys do your children enjoy the most? Do they play with creative and educational toys that let them solve problems? Tell us how your kids like to play in the comments.