Safe Fridge Magnets For Toddlers
sFridge magnets were one of the best toys my son had as a toddler. He would spend ages sticking magnets to a fridge and a washing machine. This was great! It enabled me to get lots done in the kitchen while I kept on eye on my son. The magnets kept occupied for him ages.
Magnets designed for toddlers
Magnets designed specificall for toddlers are larger for smaller fingers and are too big to swallow. If you're looking for safe magnets for toddlers to play with, this article gives a list of what's available.
Develop fine motor skills and educational value
Playing with magnets are great for honing fine motor skills as toddlers grasp the magnets and move them around. Depending on the set of magnets you get there can be lots more educational value too. For example, letter magnets are great for introducing the alphabet. You can also get magnets which introduce the concepts of animals, numbers and how things fit together.
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Magnets designed for toddlers
Magnets designed specificall for toddlers are larger for smaller fingers and are too big to swallow. If you're looking for safe magnets for toddlers to play with, this article gives a list of what's available.
Develop fine motor skills and educational value
Playing with magnets are great for honing fine motor skills as toddlers grasp the magnets and move them around. Depending on the set of magnets you get there can be lots more educational value too. For example, letter magnets are great for introducing the alphabet. You can also get magnets which introduce the concepts of animals, numbers and how things fit together.
* Please note we get a small commission for purchases made through links in this article
My Top Choice - Leapfrog Magnetic Letter Set
 
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These are aged from 24 months and up although I think they are suitable for toddlers a few months younger than this as well.
The letters are big and bright and easy for little fingers to grasp which helps fine motor skills to develop. They are a great introduction to letters and are very good at helping toddlers learn and remember letter sounds. They feature 26 interactive letter tiles and tile reader that stick to magnetic surfaces. Children put the letter tiles into the reader (the bus) and can press a button to hear the letter's name and sound. |
Press it twice and they will hear a word that begins with the letter and then the word used in a sentence.
It has an alphabet song and the wheels on the bus song too.
It has an alphabet song and the wheels on the bus song too.
Apple- magnetic letter set toy
  
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Similiar to the bus, but in the shape of an apple!
The 26 letters work in the same way, put it into the apple to hear the letter names, phonics and work skills Choose a level before you push the letter tiles into the letter slot to make it age appropriate for the child. Three photo tiles can be customized with your own photos for a unique, personalized play experience |
Ways to Play With Fridge Magnets and Children
There are lots of games and activities you can play and enjoy with your toddler or preschooler and fridge magnets. Here are a few ideas:
Spell Your Name - If you have letter magnets, they are a great way to introduce young children to their name and how to spell it.
Which magnet is missing - put about five magnets in a row. When your toddler / preschooler turns away remove one magnet. Mix up the remaining magnets and see if they can identify which magnet is missing. This is great for memory, focus and concentration.
Number Magnets - number magnets are great to introduce younger children to numbers and counting. As kids get older, you can use them to practice sums and simple math. They are great for teaching counting too. Take a magnet away and see how many are left.
Collect Magnets - you can collect magnets from different places you travel to or visit. If you're using them for toddlers make sure they are not a choking hazard. When you have enough magnets you can then play games to see who can remember where the magnet was from and what significance it has.
Magnet sorting - if you have different sizes of magnets you can encourage your toddler or preschooler to sort them in order of size (from biggest to smallest.). You can also sort them according to color or shape.
Spell Your Name - If you have letter magnets, they are a great way to introduce young children to their name and how to spell it.
Which magnet is missing - put about five magnets in a row. When your toddler / preschooler turns away remove one magnet. Mix up the remaining magnets and see if they can identify which magnet is missing. This is great for memory, focus and concentration.
Number Magnets - number magnets are great to introduce younger children to numbers and counting. As kids get older, you can use them to practice sums and simple math. They are great for teaching counting too. Take a magnet away and see how many are left.
Collect Magnets - you can collect magnets from different places you travel to or visit. If you're using them for toddlers make sure they are not a choking hazard. When you have enough magnets you can then play games to see who can remember where the magnet was from and what significance it has.
Magnet sorting - if you have different sizes of magnets you can encourage your toddler or preschooler to sort them in order of size (from biggest to smallest.). You can also sort them according to color or shape.
Gearation Refridgeration Magnets
 
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These magnets are not only great for toddlers but older kids too. Its rated age 3 plus.
You can stick the five interlocking gears on magnetic surfaces. It's great for teaching kids about movement and how pieces can fit together. They are fun and colorful magnets which attract kids attention. They are battery operated, so turn it on and kids will be mesmerised by the gears turning around. Reconfigure the gears to see them work in different patterns. |
Where Else To Play With Magnets
My toddler loved to play with magnets so much and it kept him entertained for so long, I looked for other places he could play with magnets as well. It turns out my son could play with his magnets on the washing machine, dishwasher, on a baking tray and on the metal around the fireplace too.
If you have a lot of magnetic surfaces in your house there are different games you can play. First you can go around and find out how many surfaces are magnetic. Then why not create a magnet hunt. Place the magnets on surfaces around the house and your child has to find as many as possible. They could collect them in a container, then at the end have fun counting how many they have found together.
Another idea is to purchase a magnetic board. And you can move it around the house so your toddler can play next to you while you get on with other things.
If you have a lot of magnetic surfaces in your house there are different games you can play. First you can go around and find out how many surfaces are magnetic. Then why not create a magnet hunt. Place the magnets on surfaces around the house and your child has to find as many as possible. They could collect them in a container, then at the end have fun counting how many they have found together.
Another idea is to purchase a magnetic board. And you can move it around the house so your toddler can play next to you while you get on with other things.
Foam animal Magnets
  
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The foam magnets are designed for kids between ages 2 and 3 years old.
The magnets are quite big in zie (1.5 - 3 inches and 0.2 in thickness), so easy for small fingers to pick up and handle. The toy does contain a cardboard layer so you have to be careful not to be chew or get them wet. They come and can be stored in a cardboard box so are easy to store within the home as well as take from place to place. |
Foam letter and number magnets
  
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The box contains 87 magnets in total which include large magnetic animals, 46 magnetic letters and 15 numbers.
The great thing about this set is that you can introduce the animals first and then the letters and numbers. The set is recommended for age 3 plus. It's a great set for setting out sums, spelling out first words and names etc. |
More Benefits of Magnet Play for Young Children
Playing with magnets is very educational and there are lots of ways that they benefit small children. Here are a few more benefits:
Helps develop fine motor skills and muscle strength in their fingers - Picking up the magnets from the fridge, handling them and putting them back again will help kids develop their small hand and finger muscles. Having strong muscles in their hands is essential for kids learning to read and write.
Cause and effect - playing with magnets help teach cause and effect, an essential skill for problem solving later on.
Creative play - magnets can help inspire creative play. Can you make patterns with the magnets? Can you use picture magnets to create a story? Later on, what are some funny words I can make with the magnet. The play is open ended and there are lots of ways to play. How will your child be creative?
Finding out about the world - it's fun to use magnets to explain a little bit of the world around you. Find out which surfaces are magnetic around the home and outside in the world too. Which objects and materials to magnets attract? Which will stick to the magnets? Are coins from around the world magnetic? As kids get older you can explain why some things are magnetic and others aren't
Helps develop fine motor skills and muscle strength in their fingers - Picking up the magnets from the fridge, handling them and putting them back again will help kids develop their small hand and finger muscles. Having strong muscles in their hands is essential for kids learning to read and write.
Cause and effect - playing with magnets help teach cause and effect, an essential skill for problem solving later on.
Creative play - magnets can help inspire creative play. Can you make patterns with the magnets? Can you use picture magnets to create a story? Later on, what are some funny words I can make with the magnet. The play is open ended and there are lots of ways to play. How will your child be creative?
Finding out about the world - it's fun to use magnets to explain a little bit of the world around you. Find out which surfaces are magnetic around the home and outside in the world too. Which objects and materials to magnets attract? Which will stick to the magnets? Are coins from around the world magnetic? As kids get older you can explain why some things are magnetic and others aren't
