My older grandson has reached the age where he seems to suck up information like a souped-up vacuum cleaner. In fact it’s a struggle to keep up with him, and now his younger brother is biting at his heels so I’m really starting to feel like the feeble old grandma of fairy tales, and they’re only seven and four years old – where will it end?
I gave them a challenging construction toy one week and within a few hours they’d not only mastered it but found it ‘too easy Grandma’. So how to stay one step ahead?
Well thank goodness for Geomag – a simple but very clever toy concept based on magnets, which is geared to all age groups from pre-school to teenagers. For the younger ones there’s the Magicube series – using magnetic cubes to build, and also to make simple words. Then there’s the magnetic rod construction kits – including multicoloured, glow-in-the-dark and glitter-covered rods which are just great for all kids and introduce them to magnetic polarities in a natural way through play. These sets are a brilliant buy, as you can add to them and it’s so easy to build ambitious but stable structures just using the magnetic rods and the bases.
However I’ve now discovered the next level – the Mechanics Gravity range – and I just love them. They really take educational toys to a new fun level, and importantly the 130 piece Loops and Turns set has kept my eldest grandson totally quiet for two hours and counting. I even managed a cup of tea and a little daytime TV (oops did I really share that out loud?)
You can construct all sorts of circuits, and then set off metal balls to career through them, powered just by magnetic force – no worries that a flat battery will unexpectedly end your child’s fun. Geomag provide clear instructions to help your child build amazing structures, and as they gain more experience they can experiment with their own designs too. It’s a fabulous preparation for developing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics) skills through play.
Geomag Mechanics Gravity Loops and Turns set is available from ToysRUs for £36.99 and it really is a great longterm investment. And when your child’s in bed, it’s actually a lot of fun for adults too.
By Dr K Thompson, author of From Both Ends of the Stethoscope: Getting through breast cancer – by a doctor who knows
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01A7DM42Q http://www.amazon.com/dp/B01A7DM42Q
http://faitobooks.co.uk
Note: These articles express personal views. No warranty is made as to the accuracy or completeness of information given and you should always consult a doctor if you need medical advice.
