Magnetic Tiles Ideas: 15 Things to Build With Connetix

Magnetic tiles are one of those toys that children never run out of ideas for, but parents often do. If you have a set at home and want fresh things to build, or you are choosing a first set and wondering what children actually make, here are 15 magnetic tiles ideas we love. Connetix recommends its tiles for ages 3 and up.

Quick Look: Packs for These Builds

Connetix 24 Piece Rainbow Mini Pack

£28.95

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Connetix 60 Piece Rainbow Starter Pack

£70.45 £74.95

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Connetix 92 Piece Rainbow Ball Run Pack

£79.85 £84.95

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Easy Magnetic Tiles Ideas to Start With

1. A Simple House

Four squares for the walls, two triangles for the roof. It takes a couple of minutes and gives children a base to add doors, rooms and furniture to.

Try this: Build a house with three rooms, each in a different colour.

2. A Garage for Toy Cars

Stand tiles on their edge to make walls and lay one flat across the top for a roof. Add a ramp and the cars have somewhere to park.

Try this: Build a car wash with an opening just wide enough for one car.

3. A Flat Pattern Picture

Not every build has to stand up. Laying tiles flat makes colourful pictures and symmetrical patterns, which is a calm place to start for younger children.

Try this: Make a pattern that is the same on both sides, then change one tile and spot the difference.

4. A Zoo or Farm for Small Animals

Build pens with open gates, one for each animal. Children decide who lives where and who gets the biggest field.

Try this: Make a pen for every animal you own, then build a path between them.

5. A Bridge

Two towers with tiles laid across the top make a bridge for cars, trains or figures. It is a first lesson in balance.

Try this: Move the towers further apart until the bridge needs a support in the middle.

Castle and Small World Magnetic Tiles Ideas

6. A Castle with a Secret Room

Squares make the walls and triangles make the towers. Build a smaller room inside the castle and see who can find it.

Try this: Ask who lives in the castle, then build them a bedroom.

7. A Dolls House with Furniture

Tiles make walls, floors and doorways, and smaller tiles make beds, tables and sofas. Children plan the rooms and decide where everything goes.

Try this: Build a house with a garden at the back and a path to the front door.

8. A Rainbow Arch

An arch looks simple and takes a few tries. Children learn quickly which tiles hold it up.

Try this: Build an arch big enough for a toy car to drive through.

9. A Town

Once you have a house, build another, then a shop, a school and a park. A bigger set helps here, because a whole town takes plenty of tiles.

Try this: Add roads between the buildings and decide where the traffic goes.

Bigger Builds and Ball Runs

10. A Ball Run

Ball run packs add tracks to your tiles, so children build the run, test it with a ball and change it when it does not work. Some people call these marble runs. They are a little more advanced, so we like to build them together: the children tell us what to build, and we build it.

Try this: Make the track longer by one turn each time it works.

11. The Tallest Tower

Build up, then wider, then stronger. Towers teach balance and planning, and older children enjoy the challenge.

Try this: See how tall you can build before it needs a wider base.

12. A Ship

A long flat base, tiles up the sides and a triangle sail. Add a few small figures and it is ready to sail across the living room floor.

Try this: Build a harbour for it with a lighthouse on one side.

Portal Pack Magnetic Tiles Ideas

The Connetix Pastel Portal Pack adds open frame tiles that work like doorways and windows. They are made to join the rest of the Connetix range, so they work with the packs you already have. You can read more in our Connetix Pastel Portal Pack review.

13. A Castle with Real Doorways

Portal tiles make arched entrances and windows, so a castle looks like a castle from the outside as well as the inside.

Try this: Build a gatehouse with a doorway big enough for a figure to walk through.

14. A Tunnel

Line portal tiles up one behind the other to make a tunnel for cars, trains or toy animals.

Try this: Make the tunnel longer, then build a road that goes through it.

15. A House with Windows

Swap some wall tiles for portal tiles and light shines through the windows. It changes how a simple house looks.

Try this: Build a house with a window in every room.

How Many Pieces Do You Need for These Builds?

The easy builds above work with a mini or starter pack. A town, a big castle or a ball run is easier with more tiles, so we suggest starting with a starter pack and adding to it as birthdays and Christmases come around. Every Connetix pack is designed to work together. Here is how the packs compare:

Connetix 56 Piece Bright Starter Pack

£51.65 £54.95

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Connetix 64 Piece Pastel Starter Pack

£74.20 £78.95

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Connetix 106 Piece Pastel Ball Run Pack

£89.25 £94.95

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Connetix 212 Piece Rainbow Mega Pack

£187.00 £198.95

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Frequently Asked Questions About Magnetic Tiles Ideas

What should my child build first? Start with a house or a flat pattern. Both are quick, and they show children how the tiles click together.

How many pieces do you need? A mini or starter pack covers the easy builds. For towns, big castles and ball runs, a larger pack gives you more to work with, and every Connetix pack works with the others.

What age are magnetic tiles for? Connetix recommends its tiles for children aged 3 and up. Ball run packs are a little more advanced, so we like to build them together.

Do I need ball run tiles? No. The standard tiles make all the builds above, and a ball run pack is a nice extra once your child is confident with the basics.

Where to Buy Connetix Magnetic Tiles

Our guide to the best magnetic tiles in the UK compares the packs in more detail. You can also shop all Connetix magnetic tiles at Learning Bugs and earn 5% back in Rewards on every order.

Not sure which pack to choose? Email us at hey@learningbugs.co.uk and we will help you pick.