Magnatiles or Knex

[LondonTizz]

Thinking of getting one of these sets for my 5 year old but can't decide which!

Anyone got these- would you recommend?

Thanks

[Crusoe]

We have both and they have been popular with my ds. He is now 8 and still plays with them often but he seems to prefer the knex as he can build more with it. It's cheaper too I think, but I don't think you can go wrong with either!

[LondonTizz]

Thanks. Am leaning more towards magnatiles as wondering if Knex might be a bit difficult for a 5 year old? Although he's pretty good at Lego so might be ok.

[Avebury]

Magnatiles are the favourite in our house - and I like playing with them too

[zgaze]

My just 6 year old (also good at Lego) has had knex for a year or so and loves it if that helps, both building massive structures from his imagination and following the plans for stuff. We were lucky to get a massive box of it from a charity shop for a tenner though so started off with loads rather than building up a stash a kit at a time.

[LondonTizz]

Thanks.

Have also found some playmag magnetic tiles on Amazon which seem to be a cheaper version of magnatiles so not sure whether to get those or spend more on the Magnatiles brand. Any advice?

[LondonTizz]

Also found some Knex on eBay so might be able to get both!

[Hangingbasket14]

DD and all her nursery friends LOVE Magnatiles, they have them at school and they are the most played with activity apparently. I have just brought her some for at home!

[LondonTizz]

Can anyone comment on whether I should go for playmag or spend more for magnatiles?

[alanthicke]

I'be been wondering the same thing re playmag. My kids love their magnatiles and play with them daily, but I have noticed some interesting extra shapes/accessories from playmag.

I will say that even the magnatiles are not always as strong as I think they should be, for the price. I don't know if playmag would be better, but with the magnatiles even my 5-year-old occasionally gets frustrated at how easily his structures tend to collapse. We have a small set of "magformers" which have a much stronger "hold," but the pieces are smaller and we only have a few so they don't get as much use.

Maybe order a set of playmag from Amazon and try them out, and if the quality is unsatisfactory you still have time to return and reorder magnatiles before Xmas.

[SitsOnFence]

I would say buy whatever you can afford to get a lot of, as with all construction type toys, play value seems to increase with the number of parts!

DD has been playing with k'nex since she was 4, and kid k'nex since she was 3. It's fairly easy to put together and if you have enough pieces you can make some large structures.

[LondonTizz]

Thanks that's really helpful

[Bimblywibbler]

I would go for the magnetic ones. DS really liked getting k'nex for his 6 th birthday, but now he is nearly 7 I think we've probably missed the window on the magnetic things. If you just get one, get magnetic things this year and k'nex next year.

Last year I got the k'nex "make 52 different things" box for about £12 on an amazon black Friday type deal. You get a booklet than only gives you 12 or so sets of instructions, but you can print out the rest from t' interweb. He's been very happy with that set all year.

[vikjul]

Magnatiles are brilliant! Adding more to our collection for the fourth Christmas in a row (dc now 7 and 10).

[Bimblywibbler]

Ooh interesting vikjul!

[LondonTizz]

Ok magnatiles it is. They're pricey though aren't they?! Anyone found them cheap somewhere?