A shuttle that tidies itself away
The shuttle is the clever part of this set. It is a build in its own right, and it doubles as storage for the set's pieces. At the end of play, the tiles go inside, so tidy-up becomes the last step of the game. The 32 pieces are 1 space shuttle, 1 space capsule, 1 capsule window, 1 space figure, 1 wheeled chassis, 1 large rectangle, 6 microMAGS squares, 8 right triangles and 12 squares. Every one is a magnetic tile, and the magnets seat with a soft click when two pieces meet.
Why a figure and a capsule change the build
Many children around three stack tiles flat or build a simple box, then stall. A small astronaut who needs somewhere to sit gives them a reason to keep going. The capsule needs a window. The rocket needs fins, so the right triangles come out. The wheeled chassis turns a build into something that rolls across the floor to a launch pad. The magnets do the teaching. Tiles pull together with enough force to hold a shape, then come apart by hand. That grip-and-pull builds the hand strength and hand-eye coordination that later go into holding a pencil and fastening buttons. Each build also shows cause and effect: tilt a wall the wrong way and it falls, so they adjust. As they grow, play moves from stacking and patterning flat tiles at 3 to towers, ramps and themed builds with a story at 5 or 6.
Built to last, and made to grow
The tiles are made from food-grade, non-toxic MABS plastic, free from BPAs, phthalates and latex. A lattice inside each tile prevents cracking, and fastening rivets keep the magnets secure. There are no batteries, screens or instructions to follow. Every piece works with all other Magna-Tiles sets. Add MAGNA-TILES Classic sets and the space theme becomes a full space station, with room for a second child to build alongside. Play is quiet enough for the lounge room floor or a table, and works for one child alone or two building together. Suitable for ages 3 and up. Small parts and magnets make it unsuitable for children under 3.