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Original poster

talk to me about marble runs please?

28 replies

dannyboyle · 17/10/2014 22:27

am looking to get (I think!) a marble run for our girls aged 4 and 2.5. Not girly girls so this might work. Want something that is suitable for this age but can be added to/maintain interest for a few years.

Are wooden ones worth it? Any good recommendations please? Don't want to spend a lot, but would rather spend a reasonable amount to get something useful that would survive and interest an active 2.5 year old.

OP posts:
Vanillepudding · 17/10/2014 22:34

We have a Haba marble run. It was hideously expensive 12 years ago when we bought most of it, but it still is the most played with toy of all times in our house.
Now my 5 yo plays with it and the teens still "help".

I remember we had a year where all birthday and most Christmas presents from friends and family were Haba bits, because the more accessories you have, the more fun.

BikeRunSki · 17/10/2014 22:38

Get one where plastic tubes slot together. The wooden ones where the blocks bslance on top of each other are fiddly to build and fall apart at the slightest thing.

beanandspud · 17/10/2014 22:41

You can have mine! Grin

DS loved the idea, played with it at nursery and was desperate for one. We got the plastic Galt (?) one which is pretty sturdy and fitted together well.

In reality he hardly used it and it was just another bit of plastic gathering dust.

chocomochi · 17/10/2014 22:41

Agree with BikeRunSki. Although the wooden ones look lovely, it's difficult not to knock it over! We bought one which came with animals, bells, slopes etc, but ended up taking it to a charity shop!

Thinkofanumber · 17/10/2014 23:05

I got the Galt ones for DS, I think there are three different sizes. we love playing with this, I think I'm making up for not having one when I was a child as I really wanted one.

FairyPenguin · 17/10/2014 23:08

Another one who has the Galt ones. Bought a basic version when they were young and then more complex to add onto it when older. Sturdy and lots of entertainment value.

ThatBloodyWoman · 17/10/2014 23:09

We have got a plastic one and have never managed to make head nor tail of the construction diagrams!

ChishandFips33 · 17/10/2014 23:12

Early learning centre do a great one - good price too!

NorksEnormous · 17/10/2014 23:20

We have the galt one- DS never looks at it!

ShebaQueen · 17/10/2014 23:23

My boys had the ELC one and absolutely loved it. I sold it on ebay for a good price when hey grew out of it too, it seemed to be indestructible.

ADishBestEatenCold · 18/10/2014 00:30

When DCs were little we had an ELC one (still do, someplace in the attic). It was tinted plastic, but very robust and was quite a sophisticated construction toy (unlike a later version I saw).

Anyway the point of this (long winded) post is that the marble run was played with a lot over the years ... as much as the brio railway.

So ... a hit, in my house.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 18/10/2014 00:37

Tesco has one reduced from 20 to 10 at the moment which I bought for my neice. Its plastic and comes in about 500 peices (or so it felt trying to build the bugger!) but acrually was loads of fun.

Came with plastic balls (like on Hungry Hippos) rather than actual marbles though.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 18/10/2014 00:40

looks like its gone back up to £15

jThompson · 18/10/2014 06:43

We have the elc one. However having collected from car boots we have more than one set. There is plenty for both kids tolay at once or one to build a fairly complex structure.

We had a small non branded set but it wasn't much fun and we weren't able to buy more to add to it.

iPaddy · 18/10/2014 06:57

I will contradict everyone and vote for a wooden one. But I would also say that 2.5 might be a bit young. I got my DD one last year when she was 6.2 and it was perfect for her. It was a huge hit and still is.

If they are too young you end up doing all the building yourself.

waithorse · 18/10/2014 07:28

I bought the Galt one last year on an Amazon lightening deal. Good quality and played with lot's.

TheSteveMilliband · 18/10/2014 07:40

I got the galt one on a lightning deal too. Is very sturdy and all the pieces work properly (unlike a cheaper version he was also given which sticks). There was also a more elaborate version (may have been haba) but thought it might be a bit too complicated. Of course, a year on wondering if I should have got it!

TheSteveMilliband · 18/10/2014 07:50

Ah no, it was skyrail. Very elaborate, for older children. Think toyrific might have been the one that didn't work so well

WhispersOfWickedness · 18/10/2014 07:58

The Galt ones are brilliant, I also got ours last year on the amazon Lightning deal. Have got another one this year to add to it as DS (will be 5 in December) loves it. DD (just turned 3) likes it as well, but can't build as well, so DS builds it for her no then she puts the marbles down Grin
It's brilliant educationally, they have to work out which way round to put the pieces, how to make their creations stand up, how to make sure all the pieces lead downwards so the marbles will go down, etc Smile

lostlalaloopsy · 18/10/2014 07:59

I got one for my dd last year. My dh was very sceptical about it, but dd loves it and oftens asks for it out - I had to put it away as her little brother kept trying to eat the marbles.

LokiBear · 18/10/2014 07:59

Costco have a huge one that made my 31 year old husband squeal with glee. It's about £30 I think. I almost bought it for him but his mum has bought him one!

Original poster
dannyboyle · 18/10/2014 09:40

Thanks all. Will have a look at the elc one as might be best bet. Had wondered about galt ones on amazon but wasn't sure how much a 4 year old could build by themselves (she loves building train tracks by herself so this was next step).

OP posts:
WhispersOfWickedness · 18/10/2014 09:55

The pieces are nice and chunky with the galt one, she should be able to physically build it herself. It's mostly the physics of it that she will need help with, but IME they pick up on the 'rules' of it pretty quickly Smile

Original poster
dannyboyle · 18/10/2014 10:43

Thanks whispers, much appreciated.

OP posts:
pictish · 18/10/2014 10:49

Buy a starter Brio train set instead. My advice. You can add and add to it, and it's easier to set up.