Should I get rid of our Magnatiles?

[Anonymous]

Bought them for our DD when she was 2. She loved them and still plays with them semi-regularly at age 4. She got a set of Magformers as a gift recently and likes these, too. DH and I LOVE them, lol. The magnets are so much stronger than the ones Magnatiles have so our (ahem, DD's) creations don't fall apart so easily. She hasn't expressed a strong preference for one or the other. Is there any advantage to Magnatiles over Magformers? Vice versa? For example, certain things you can do/build with one, but not the other?

Looking at MF boxes, it looks like you can build a greater variety of things because they carry more shapes and accessories. MT seem really limited in the shapes they have. We've gotten off-brand to get more shapes, but the magnets aren't as strong. The MF boxes I've seen have a pamphlet for different things you can build with the included pieces so seem better for kids who want to follow instructions. MT are maybe better to encourage kids to come up with their own ideas..?

FWIW I've just gotten a couple more boxes of Magformers (used so really cheap) so already have a decent collection though not as big as our MT/knock-off collection. Also, we're expecting a LO#2.

[Anonymous]

OP again. Forgot to say that we live in a small space, which is why I'm considering getting rid of the Magnatiles. I can probably sell them for a decent price used. If I can't, I'd probably leave them at one of the grandparents'.

[Anonymous]

You’re thinking too much about this. If you absolutely don’t have space, sell them or give them to the grandparents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’re thinking too much about this. If you absolutely don’t have space, sell them or give them to the grandparents.

Well, few things are absolute. We have space constraints, but can keep both if it's worthwhile to do so. That will just mean less space for other toys.

[Anonymous]

You’ll get good money if you decide to sell them. I don’t think you need both styles. I’d pick one and go with that.

[Anonymous]

How are you storing all these tiles that they take up so much space? We have a basket that all the magnetic toys go in and they stack so flat that they don’t take up much space. We have a few large sets plus bases to make cars.

I prefer the tiles to Duplos that take up much more space per piece.

Agree you are making this way too hard. Just get a bin for all the tiles and keep and many fit. If you need to sell or donate some, get rid of the ones that you like least. And for goodness sakes stop buying more sets if this is stressing you out.

[Anonymous]

The big benefit to the magnatiles if that you can build much larger structures. Because the sides are flat, you can stack them end to end on a flat surface and just keep going up. My kids make stuff taller than I am! So we used the magnatiles to build parking garages for toy cars, houses for stuffed animals, etc.

[Anonymous]

Marie Kondo them - do they spark joy? If not - sell!

[Anonymous]

I will take them off your hands! -special education teacher lol

[Anonymous]

Bring them to a grandparents house. If you are really missing them/notice they are gone while playing with the others after a few month bring them back. If your kid ends up not playing with them at grandparents house because there are other toys to play with/things to do- sell them or donate them.

[Anonymous]

Why can’t the all be used together? My kids (3,5,7) build huge complexes. Usually the magnatiles form the bases and the magformers are the accessories/decorations.

[Anonymous]

My 6 yr old still uses hers and has both types of sets...uses them together. Keep! (unless they don't spark joy; of course).

[Anonymous]

This sort of obsessive decision making about small things at home is what I live in fear of as I become a SAHM again.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You’ll get good money if you decide to sell them. I don’t think you need both styles. I’d pick one and go with that.

Agree. OP, decide, organize your space and move on.

[Anonymous]

My 8-12 year olds still use them. They regularly build large structures for action figures, etc., to live and or battle in. They are very handy for many purposes. We’ve even used them to train the dog regarding object permanence.