Magna tiles?

[rainbowzebra05]

We got DS6 some magna-tiles for Christmas. I feel a bit stupid, but I can't seem to use them as pictured. Is there a trick to them? They don't stay at a right angle to each other unless you build a full 3-d shape with all sides, just sort of fold in on each other.

I've popped them away for today until I can work it out because ds isn't the most patient of children. I can see these being really frustrating when they won't build!

Do they only have one small magnet at the middle of the tile? Unfortunately got those ones for my DD few months ago and they suck! She got new ones for Xmas with two magnets per side (so 8 per rule instead of 4) and they are great.

2 per side, they're the "Magna-tiles" brand. They seem to want to either lay side by side with both pieces flat, or one laid on top of the other, not at a right angle unless there's multiple pieces. It's annoying me so no chance DS will manage them. They look really easy on the advert

We have so many of these.

Sometimes they fold over, sometimes they don't.

When you "join" 2 pieces to make an L shape, make sure the standing piece is not sitting on the flat piece, but is to the side of it.

We have the Connetix brand which is basically the same. Do you mean you want a square piece to sit at an angle with noting supporting it? This seems like an odd thing to try and do, the pieces need the support of other pieces to hold shapes. I have a 1yo and 4yo old and both play and build with them to different levels.

Thanks @justasmalltownmum, will have a go with them that way round!

@BuffaloCauliflower like this, so the "freestanding" triangles to the front in the first image, and the side wall in the image with the girl. He's likely to want to build courses for his sonic toys, he's autistic and that's the current fixation. So I'd put money on him trying to add things like the triangles as obstacles.

We also have Connetix, and I would say that sort of freestanding pattern is easier with the little triangles than with squares – both my children (5 and almost 3) definitely do things like that, although more often the 'decoration' triangles on the top of the wall than the low ones in front.

They will fold over if you give them a moderate knock, though, so I'd guess the sonic toys might knock them over. Would your son consider that part of the fun or not?

Merry Christmas to everyone.

You may find Polydrons easier for now and maybe put magna tiles away for a bit, they do click together and magnetic variations. You can get them from Amazon.

I’m glad you posted this as my son also got some Magnatile brand ones and I couldn’t get them to work like the pictures! Thought it was just me

Yes can't really build "flat" shapes, you need to build them up into 6 sided cubes to build anything of note, but once you get started the sky is the limit! The triangular ones are fun too - these have been a popular toy in our house for years.

Ah thanks for the picture/additional explanation, I was picturing something different. Yes we can do this with ours, sometimes they will fold but have a fiddle, remember magnets have north and south poles so sometimes the tile is happier flipped round the other way, if that makes sense. We’ve made mazes for little cars/figures so a Sonic run is definitely possible, you’ll figure it out. I love our Connetix and will be getting more now my 4yo is getting more proficient.