We discovered Magformers several years ago at a local toy store and fell for them big time. Magformer construction sets are made of colorful and durable BPA-free plastic shapes that stick together with strong magnets. Our children have such fun dreaming up unique 3D creations. Magformers sent us a complimentary 54-piece Transform set to review, and is also sponsoring a giveaway for my readers!

My boys chose the Transform set because of the airplane and rocket theme. They are into outer space and flying machines big time. This particular set has 9 different shapes, plus accessories like propellers, satellites and wheels.

Every Magforners set (there are over 65 to choose from!) includes an easy-to-follow booklet with instructions and ideas. Put two pieces next to each other and they click together at the edges.

Magformers are very “tactile” things; they are bright and colorful and make a pleasant little clicking sound when stuck together. There’s no right or wrong way to play with this toy, which is vastly appealing to any child, especially those who are young or have special needs.

How a child will interact with Magformers definitely depends on age. Our 4-year-old girl likes to build simple boxes or just stack them up in towers. Even though the magnets stick together very strongly, she is able to pull them apart without a problem. Even better, because they stay together, she doesn’t get frustrated with her projects falling apart or collapsing.

Samuel (5) and Benjamin (7) are able to follow the booklets and work on actual projects which may take anywhere from 5 minutes to 15 minutes. Joseph, who is 12 and very mechanically-minded, got the helicopter and airplane put together in under 10 minutes, so the set was a breeze for him. He especially enjoys building and creating things for his younger siblings to play with.

I mentioned before that Magforners are durable, and that’s no joke. The first set we bought over 4 years ago still looks great, and this is after being regularly played with by all the children from age 3 and up. They’ve been thrown around, banged on the floor….you name it. Magformers uses HQABS and sonic welding to ensure the toys are tightly bonded and the magnets stay in place. The magnetic components are fully locked inside the plastic for further safety.

And no matter which sets you have, the pieces are easily interchangeable, so you can mix and match for endless possibilities.

If you are looking for something a little different to put under the tree this Christmas, I highly recommend Magformers! We will definitely keep adding on to our sets over the years because they have definitely stood the test of time in our family.

Giveaway

Magformers is giving away a Transform set, just like I reviewed! This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

At 15 months, Ingrid is still putting a lot of things in her mouth. If you have a little one that also loves to bite and chew and suck, then you know how nice it is to have toys that are not just safe but also natural. Oko Creations is a name I have come to trust when it comes to organic, natural baby goods. You already know that I love their cloth wipes; today I get to share with you the bibdana and teether we received in exchange for an honest review. Both are SO cute and made in Canada.

When I opened the package, I found my testers nestled inside this recycled bag:

Oko’s teether is made of beeswax-coated maple wood ring and organic cotton/poly soft toy.  Your little one can safely bite on this natural, easy to hold and absorbent toy.  The parts are separate so you can put the fabric component in the laundry and handwash the wooden ring. It retails for $16.99. I picked the Ukulele print because we are a very musical family :-).

I like to get the terry cotton part a little bit damp and stick in the freezer for a while. That gives Ingrid something cool and soothing to teethe on. She’s cutting some of her bigger, back teeth now.

The Öko-Bibdana is designed for ages 0 to 24 months and can be used for meal-time and nursing, as well as for the teething and spit up. cute design on each side. There are two snaps on the back which allow you to adjust the sizing around the neck. A terry cotton layer inside gives you some absorbency as well. Fabric content is 90% organic cotton and 10% polyester and it retails for $18.99.

This bib is also reversible, with a super cute print on either side. 6 prints are currently available. Flip it over if one side gets soiled and re-use. I chose the “Little Bear” print because we love woodland creatures so much.

I really like the trim shape of the bib and the absorbent terry inside. It stays smooth and flat against Ingrid’s body, too. The vibrant prints help to hide stains. If you prefer something much larger, check out Oko’s Big Bib for Little Bellies!

Certified organic cotton is something you’ll find in many of Oko’s “green” products. Why organic? Here are just a few reasons:

• Traditional cotton represents just 2.4% of cultivated lands, but 25% of the insecticides used worldwide.
• Traditional cotton is the 3rd largest consumer of irrigated water in the world after rice and wheat.
• Child labour in the cultivation of traditional cotton is common.
• Multiple chemical treatments for preparing and finishing are used on traditional cotton fibers.

I have nothing but good things to say about our Oko bibdana and teether. They are beautiful, natural and completely practical. Both are extremely well made with no loose or uneven stitches. And why keep the goodness all to yourself? Oko’s baby products make ideal gifts for the natural-minded mama.

Giveaway

You can win an Oko Creations bibdana and teether in your choice of prints on my Facebook page. This giveaway is open to both US and Canadian residents. Look for the flash giveaway that’s pinned to the top!