GeoSmartGeoSphere

Great toys Grandsons have hours of fun with these.

Item not robust and prone to breakage

This is a clever magnetic building toy, made up of squares and triangles that can be combined to build any number of things. They are magnetic on all four sides, hold securely to build, and stand up, but come apart relatively easy for rebuilding.You can put together fun geometric shapes. Both my nine and five-year-olds enjoyed them, though the younger even more so. These are almost identical to, and can be used with (they connect, but not perfectly), the Magnaformers we already have.Educational and creative, these are a sturdy, long-lasting toy.

I shared this toy with our 4-year-old grandson, who had previously been exposed to the Magformers, which are similar in concept. He immediately entered into playing with his new toy.Geosmart has the potential for sparking the imagination while providing entertainment at the same time. Although labelled as a toy for “5+ ages” I believe that it is appropriate for kany young child with good fine motor coordination and a creative mind.Here are some of the pros and cons that we have identified for this toy.Pros1. Simplicity of design (triangles, squares, single size)2. Pieces of a size that can be managed by small hands3. Strong magnets, yielding simple connection of parts4. Variety of photos of designs/configurations5. Magnets strong enough to hold things together6. A connector (“spinner”) allowing shapes to rotateCons1. Many photos show designs that cannot be made from the parts supplied2. No instruction manual – photos supply ideas but must be figured out3. Magnets tend to snap things together inadvertently (true of all such toys)4. Pieces are thin and easily slip out of the handComparison with MagformersSince our grandson has both Geosmart and Magformers, we can offer a comparison of both toys. He enjoys both toys very much. They are similar, with the same basic concept, except the Magformers are more rounded. Geosmart includes a spinner in the basic set, providing greater fun because of the increased variety in designs available.In larger sets, Geosmart includes additional shapes, including isometric triangles, polygons, etc. Magformers include pentagons, which are our grandson’s favorites. All Magformers in the basic set are symmetrical, leading to more straightforward constructions. Some Geosmart shapes make design a bit tricky.The basic Geosmart set is less expensive than the comparable Magformers, although Geosmart lacks the pentagon. The more expensive versions of Geosmart, however, include wheels and motors.Overall, I can recommend both Geosmart and Magformers. They provide constructive entertainment at reasonable prices.

There are thirty-one pieces to the GEOSMART GeoSphere. Eighteen of the pieces are squares, eight are triangles and one is a piece called a “spinner,” which does just what you'd think. The kit is sold as a “GeoSphere” but one can build more than just the sphere. There are different sets available from Geosmart to build structures, creatures, and vehicles. This GeoSphere contains less pieces that many and is one of the lowest priced sets. It would be a good one to buy if one’s unsure of the recipient's interest level. The magnetized pieces work with their particular set as well as the others. Creating is limited only by the number of pieces accumulated and imagination. After playing with them awhile, I left the pieces from the GeoSphere laid out on the coffee table in anticipation of our regular weekend visit with a favorite grade school aged relative. I smiled when DF pointed out that he spotted every other person in the house spending at least a few minutes at the table playing with the Geosmart pieces. There's something about playing with magnets that seems to appeal to all ages. The bright colors of the set may have been a draw too. These sets are on the pricey side, but seem really well made. The pieces feel substantial and durable. I would recommend a Geosmart set as a good gift for any child, teen (maybe adult) that has an imagination and an interest in building structures or models.