We have been Picasso Tile fans for a long time, but this new S.T.E.A.M clip-in set is our absolute fave!
We were kindly gifted this Picasso Tiles 136 piece Deluxe Combo Clip-In Extension Set (PT136) for purpose of review. All opinions and images are our own and completely genuine. This post contains affiliate links.
From the moment our new Picasso Tile set arrived my kids literally could not wait to get their hands on it! We already have the 100 piece set (PT100) which we gave as baby sister's 1st birthday present. She is now 18 months and along with 5 yr old big brother, Picasso Tiles are a firm favorite toy choice for open-ended play.
This new magnetized clip-in set takes magnetic tile play to a whole new level of learning! The set includes 66 frames, 16 designer clip-ins, 2 LED clip-ins, a 26 piece alphabet clip-in set, a 10 piece numerical clip-in set, a 14 piece symbol clip-in set, and 2 car bases.
One of my initial concerns was the stability and ease of the clip-in system. I worried that it would cause the tiles to be less rigid, and that my kids would spend too much time fussing with popping them in and out. These fears were totally unnecessary as Picasso Tiles have done an awesome job engineering the clip-in system.
My 5 yr old son was able to change the inserts independently, but they were not flimsy and there is no chance they will just start falling out. 18 month old baby sis was not able to pop out the inserts which, let's be honest, is a very good thing for all involved!
Where I am most impressed with this STEAM toy is how effortlessly it encourages play based learning. As my son built his house, he happily chatted about the letters and numbers on each tile. He even carefully selected uppercase and lowercase letters to match his design.
The inclusion of the two car bases adds an extra creative element. We decided to make a Math train, challenging big bro to solve the sum shown on the train carriages. This hands on style of learning makes such a difference with his level of engagement. And of course, baby sis was just happy to be along for the ride!
If you asked my kids what they loved most about the PT136 set, it would definitely be the designer tiles! These tiles come pre-filled with fun materials such as small balls, sequins, glitter and tiny images. The level of excitement from the kids as they investigated each and every tile was immense!
Once we had discussed all of the designer tile fillers, the kids loved using them to make 'designer cars', stacking them as high as possible. You can even unscrew these tiles and add your own fillers!
The final wow factor with this set most definitely went to the 2 LED clip-ins. The lights have several different settings and will brighten up any build!
To activate the lights it's a simple click push button which baby sis loved using. The fit isn't quite as secure with these LED inserts as they are chunkier, but this didn't cause us any problems. It's worth noting that you do need two CR2032 batteries, one for each LED tile, which need to be securely screwed in by an adult.
So whether you already have Picasso Tiles and you are looking for the next addition, or you don't have any and you want to start a collection, this magnetized clip-in set gets a complete vote of confidence from us! I can't wait to use it for play based learning activities, as well as watching as my kids get independently creative with the tiles. Thanks Picasso Tiles for encouraging creativity and play with this quality product.
No comments :
Post a Comment