Magnetic construction tiles are one of those toys that earn their place in the cupboard, and the Magformers My First Set is a good way in for younger children. It is a set of brightly colored magnetic shapes that click together however you turn them, so even a toddler who cannot yet build can feel the satisfying snap and start making something. Here is how it held up in everyday play. Ages 1.5 to 4.
What is in the set
The My First 54 Set comes with 54 pieces, mostly squares and triangles in chunky, toddler-friendly sizes, along with a color matching book and a pack of idea cards. Every edge is magnetic, and the magnets are set so the pieces attract however they meet, which matters a lot for small children: there is no wrong way round, so the tiles always click rather than repel and frustrate. The pieces feel sturdy and are an easy size for little hands to grip.
How it plays
For the youngest children, the joy is simply in the snap. Sticking two tiles together, pulling them apart, and clicking them onto the fridge or a baking tray is enough on its own, and it is good for the hands while quietly introducing the names of the shapes.
Then the building begins. The clever idea behind Magformers is that you lay the shapes out flat, into what are called nets, and fold them up into 3D shapes: a flat cross of squares becomes a cube, a fan of triangles becomes a pyramid. That move from flat to solid is genuinely good for spatial thinking, the kind of three-dimensional understanding that helps with maths later on. It takes a bit of practice, and the idea cards give you something to copy while you find your feet.
The verdict
This is a toy that grows with a child, which is what makes it worth the space. A toddler clicks and sorts and names the colors, an older child folds nets into cubes and towers and starts copying the cards, and the same box keeps being useful for years. The 54-piece set is a sensible amount to start with: enough to build something satisfying without being overwhelming. If you are after one open-ended toy that quietly builds shape and spatial skills, this is an easy one to recommend.
For more shape play without any special kit, our learning shapes with toy cars turns a car obsession into shape practice, and our build a shape dinosaur makes pictures out of simple shapes.