8 of The Best Construction Toys for Your Kids

Building sets are the blank canvas of the toy world, ready to be transformed into something new every time your child opens the box. Stimulating creativity isn’t their only benefit, though. “Lots of construction toys involve an element of logic and strategy, which is good, as well as promoting a basic understanding of physics – for example, how to build a solid base or the fact that if elements of the construction lean over too far they will fall down,” explains Dr Amanda Gummer, a child psychologist specialising in play and parenting. “If a parent is playing with their child they can start to introduce some of these advanced concepts in a non-threatening, easy-to-understand way. For younger children differently-sized and coloured pieces offer valuable language development opportunities, too.”

This is TheSchoolRun's pick of some of the best construction toys for all ages.

1. Magna-Tiles
My girls (aged 2 and 6) received a large set of Magna-Tiles for Christmas a year ago and I can honestly say that they have been played with every single day! They really are an investment (as are many good quality construction sets) but they are easy for children of all ages to use and they are fabulous to build with. Place them alongside a window with sunlight streaming through or  use them with short strings of LED Christmas lights or on a light table for a fabulous burst of colourful construction fun.

2. Duplo & Lego
We can’t have a fabulous construction toy list and not feature Duplo for smaller fingers (but it’s also great for learning activities with bigger kids) and its big brother Lego for bigger kids (though even big brother has a younger sidekick thanks to the Lego Junior sets). Invented more than 40 years ago, I think part of the enduring appeal of Lego is the fact that it has been played with by parents and grandparents who love sharing a passion for building and creativity with their own children and grandchildren.

3. Tree Blocks
Tree blocks are particularly fabulous as a building set for children who love imaginative play. Teamed with a set of small figurines – animals or fantasy characters, and a collection of natural materials such as shells or stones, my children will play for hours, building wonderful imaginary worlds.

4. Marble Run
If you are looking for an awesome way to encourage the development of a range of problem solving skills, then you can’t go past a marble run. With a vast range of marble run sets available, both wooden and plastic, most sets include a combination of straight and curved tracks, inclines, support pieces and accessories (both functional and decorative). The pieces can be arranged in many different ways, each sending the marbles down through the system on a new route, and it is this flexibility and open-endedness that promotes both problem solving and creative thinking.

5. Wooden Block Sets
You can’t go past a wooden block set for great constructive play for little people. From around 6 months of age, sitting babies can help to stack (or rather, knock down!) small wooden blocks. The addition of a set of fabulous architecturally inspired shaped blocks continues to challenge older children to play with blocks.

6. Wooden Train Set
We often think of train sets being merely for preschoolers but for many children it is not until they are in kindergarten or early primary/elementary school that they can independently construct complicated track configurations. My two year old loves playing with our train set but it is Immy (at almost seven) who actually plans and constructs the interesting track combinations.

7. Mobilo
I cannot tell you how many classes of children I have taught, aged anywhere from 5 to 8 years of age, that have loved building with Mobilo, especially those interesting in creating vehicles for use in imaginative play.

8. TinkerToy sets
Another new find for me, I love the look of the TinkerToy sets. Sets include a whole range of interestingly shaped pieces including spools, rods, flags, washers and end caps that snap together and stay together, allowing children the flexibility and creativity of both constructive and imaginative play.

9. K’Nex
Another great set for primary/elementary aged children, K’Nex sets include collections of rods, connectors and bricks for children to use in construction.With a range of more open ended sets and single construction projects, K’Nex sets remind me a little of Lego but with a whole different world of possibilities thanks to the shapes of the pieces.

10. SmartMax
A reader suggestion, the manufacturer says, “SmartMax is the magnetic discovery system that enables children to experience both the wonders of magnetism and the fascinating world of construction in a safe way. The extra-large pieces make it easy for small children to manipulate them. Outstanding, colorfully-illustrated guides in each set demonstrate the basics of magnetic phenomena, ways to strengthen structures, steps in building towers and bridges, and much more.” I must say I was impressed by the size of the pieces anf think this is a great set for children who like to build BIG and TALL!