Customer Reviews

BRIO Magnetic Stacking Train

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I thought it would be cool to teach our little boy about how magnets work with this train, however it's not as easy to get the magnets to stick to the base of the train as one would think. There is only one side of each of the pieces that attaches magnetically to the train's base. So that means you have to try up to 6 surfaces to find the "sticky" surface. Seems like a simple thing but it's kind of annoying. Wouldn't have bought this had I known this.

At first one might think that magnets would make wooden blocks easier to use. However, I find the opposite to be true. The age recommendation is 12 months +. My son is 13 months, and is far from figuring out how magnets work.

As an adult, I find myself enjoying fiddling with the train, but mildly irritating that there is no way to predict how the symmetrical blocks will fit together. I actually enjoy the non-magnetic Haba Fantasy blocks I got for my son better.

It seems like a high quality product.

I Might recommend the train for:
1. An older child who may benefit from learning about magnets.
2. A child who already likes regular wooden blocks and might like a variation and challenge.

I purchased the magnetic stacking blocks about 1 1/2 years ago for my child (now 2 1/2). I loved the idea of children having beginning blocks that could actually stick together and not immediately fall down. These are very well made. Because they are magnetic with one side "positive"/ one side "negative", I put a tiny permanent marker dot on the positive side of all the blocks. My daughter immediately picked up on this (at 12 months, they are more observant that we think sometimes) and that did the trick. She knew how to stick them together. They stick together well enough on the floor but if picked up too vigorously, or with too many stuck together- they come apart- lots of fun for the child as well. Her main issue was that there were not enough to really feel like they can build something as they get older so I bought a second set and this train. It works great for us.

If you have an older child, the discovery of how the magnets repel or attract will be interesting, but if they are younger most likely just frustrating so I suggest the dot idea. It is a safe beginning magnet set because there is no way the child can access the magnet- it is inside the shapes.