to feel warmly towards Hama beads?

[sethstarkaddersmum]

I have read lots of posts on here from people who hate them because they're always finding them on the floor, but I think they're great.

DD (5) and DS1 (3) play nicely together with them for ages. DS1 just shoves them on at random but DD makes the most beautiful intricate patterns.

And I have only found one in the baby's nappy once.

AIBU? Why do people hate them so much?

Try knocking a tub containg roughly 3000 of the buggers over a wooden floor

Oh my dd will sit quietly for HOURS with these - so I think they are excellent, and we therefore have rather a lot - plus the cheapy Ikea version.

I have a special (ie clean) dustpan and brush from the poundshop for this very dilemma. Problem solved

ooh there is a cheapy IKEA version? are they compatible with proper ones?

I love them too.
Thanks to Hama beads I no longer leave the ironing until the basket is overflowing or I've got nothing to wear to work.

dedicated dustpan and brush a good idea.
We keep ours in a big flat Tupperware so that might be why we haven't knocked them on the floor yet.
rofl re ironing. It's true, I go into the utility room to do a quick Hama bead iron for dd and do the skirt that has been waiting for ages at the same time.

Yep the Ikea ones are indistinguishable from the Hama ones - well at least to me About 5 euros for a huge pot!

Brilliant! Will stock up next time

What do you do with them? Wonder would they keep DS (3.6)amused for a while, or would he be too young...

you put them onto special pegboards which are shaped like things, eg cars, frogs, seahorses, or shapes and make patterns or pictures; when they're done you iron them through greaseproof paper and they stick together.

3.6 is probably too young - my ds1 only does it because he has dd to copy and to chat to while he does it - but it depends on the child: if he has good fine motor skills and likes playing by himself, it might be ok.

my boys, and I, love them
Ours are stored in 5 of these, one colour per compartment obviously.
One box has been knocked over once in 4 years, by then 2yo ds2 who wasn't using them but was also playing at the table.

Umm, yes I am anal about things like mixing playdoh colours as well!

ooh, get you with your different colours kept separately!

seriously, that box looks brilliant - and being big and flat it will be hard to knock over. I may get something similar.

what age do they stop playing with them?

Thanks.... maybe something for us to do together then?

I will look in Ikea next time we go up.

My 11 y/o ds still plays with them with his 7 y/o sister (as do I at the ripe old age of 32).

yes and unlike many toys which have no appeal whatsoever to grownups, Hama beads are actually rather fun, so you can do your own whilst helping him with his

I hate standing on them, finding them everywhere for ages after they have been used & I hate ironing Also what do you do with ALL the creations? Plus the stress of someone knocking over someone elses half done creation I always think oh no when Hama beads are requested.

yeah, those compartment boxes are a little over the top really, but ds1 was OBSESSED with them for quite some time, and it was just easier.

ds2 has been using them this week, and ds1 (8y) got one of the ideas books out and spend a good hour making one.

Am I the only person who has flattened the little spiky things with my iron from pressing too hard?

I did that twirlymum

I didn't know there were ideas books!

My 11 yr old and her friend will still happily play with them - especially coming up to Christmas, DD makes little thing to give to grannies and us. Which we then have to proudly display on mantlepiece, but hey that's a small price for peace.

"I have a special (ie clean) dustpan and brush from the poundshop for this very dilemma. Problem solved "

• Not when your brushing them up from dusting laminate flooring

I do love them too though. I Childmind after-schoolers and they are great for keeping them entertained. Plus both my boys like doing them too (10 and 6)

• Dusty

the ikea boards have shorter pin on them and the beads have bigger holes so are harder for small children to do. But they are compatible.
I found this site They come really quickly the books are worth getting to give you some ideas. If only a few get dropped on floor I just hover them up. Not as bad to stand on with bear feet as lego lol