I have two kids, ages 3 and 1. They don't always get along. Obviously. The one toy they both play with EVERY SINGLE DAY are the magnetic tiles. We have bought different brands, knock off brands, name brands, whatever; they all work basically the same.
We use this to work on vocabulary development (structure, foundation, solid, base, towers, tunnels, bridges, etc.). We use them to talk about colors. We assign challenges. The STEM possibilities are endless.
But the best way we use these in my house and in my classroom? To deal with emotions. It's really frustrating when you're building a structure and it falls. We verbalize how we're feeling and that it is okay to feel that way. We talk through some problem solving. Do we still have little melt downs sometimes? Sure. Doesn't everyone? Even adults? Yep. But we are using these STEM toys to begin building that SEL foundation that will carry our kiddos through life and help them to understand how to deal with those emotions that feel so big.
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