If you are searching for magnetic animals, you probably have a picture in mind: a child building a little zoo, a farm or a jungle, with characters that move around inside it. It is a lovely way to play, and it works best when the building pieces and the characters come together. This guide explains what to look for, how figures change the way children use magnetic sets, and where our Magnetic Figures 4 Pieces set fits in.
One note on wording first. Our set is called Magnetic Figures, and we describe it as figures rather than as specific animals. Check the product page to see exactly what the figures look like. What we can say is how they work in play, and that is what matters when you are deciding whether to buy.
Why parents look for magnetic animals
Most children reach a point where building alone is not enough. A tower is fun to make, but a tower with someone living in it is a story. Characters give a build a purpose, and that is usually when play goes from ten minutes to an hour.
Animals are a natural choice because children already know them. They arrive with ready-made ideas: where the animal lives, what it does, who its friends are. A child who has never been interested in construction will often start building simply because the animals need a house.
Magnets add something extra. Pieces click together and stay put, so a fence, a barn or an enclosure holds its shape while your child moves characters around. There is less frustration than with loose pieces that tip over.
What to check before you buy magnetic animals
Sets vary a lot, and the listing does not always make that clear. These are the points we would check as a parent.
Is it a character set or a building set?
Some products are only characters. Others are only building pieces. Know which one you are buying, because a figure set on its own will not give your child anything to build with. The best approach is usually a pairing: a building set for the world and a figure set for the people or creatures living in it.
Age range
Check the age guidance. Our sets, including the figures, are suitable from age 3 (3+), and the product information lists 3-12 years. That wide range is useful, because younger children play with characters in simple ways while older children build more elaborate scenes around them.
Material and magnets
Look at what the toy is made from and how the magnets are described. Tilesminds products are made from recycled plastic, use non-toxic material and have strong magnets. Those are the claims we make, and we keep to them.
Tiles or blocks
This is easy to overlook. Tiles are flat pieces that make walls, floors and roofs. Blocks are cubes that stack and connect on several sides. They are different kinds of product and are not interchangeable, so decide which style suits your child before you add characters.
How magnetic figures change the way children play
A figure set is small, but it changes the dynamic of a build. Here is what we see most often.
- Builds get a purpose. Your child is no longer just stacking pieces. They are making a home, a stage or an enclosure for someone.
- Play lasts longer. Once a character has a place to live, children tend to return to the same scene and add to it.
- Stories develop. Characters can meet, visit, move house or get lost. You hear more narration and more invented dialogue.
- Siblings and friends join in. Four figures are easy to share, with each child taking a character.
None of this requires a long list of rules. You give your child the pieces, and they tell the story.
Meet the Magnetic Figures 4 Pieces set
The Magnetic Figures 4 Pieces set contains four figures and is suitable from age 3 (3+). It costs €14.99, which makes it an easy add-on rather than a big purchase.
Four figures is a sensible number. It is enough for a small cast and a proper story, but not so many that your child loses track of them or that the set takes over the playroom. It is also a good size for a gift, for example when a child already owns a building set and you want something that gives it new life.
The set is not tied to a theme. That is useful: the figures can live in whatever your child builds, whether that is a farm, a castle or a house of their own design. Your child decides who lives where.
Pair the figures with a building set
Figures need somewhere to play. If you do not have a building set yet, this is where to start. Here are a few options, depending on what your child enjoys.
For a first set of flat tiles
The Magnetic Tiles 48 Pieces set is a manageable starting point. Flat tiles make walls, roofs and floors, which is all a child needs for a simple house or enclosure. It costs €29.99. The tiles are flat pieces, so this is a different kind of product from the blocks below.
For bigger builds
If your child likes to build large, the Magnetic Tiles 125 Pieces set gives much more room for a whole village or a multi-room scene. It is a tile set, so it works the same way as the 48-piece set, just on a bigger scale.
For a pixel-style look
Blocks are a different approach. The Magnetic Blocks ICE 118 Pieces set has 118 cubes with an ice and pixel-style theme. These are blocks, not tiles, so the building feels different: stacked and layered rather than folded into flat walls. If your child likes the pixel-art look, this one is worth a closer look. It costs €29.99.
For a story with a princess
If the story your child tells involves a castle, the Magnetic Tiles Princess Set 50 Pieces has a princess theme and is made up of tiles. It is the only set here with that theme, so choose it when a princess story is what your child wants.
Add vehicles for more movement
Some children prefer stories with a lot of action. Characters that only stand in a building can feel static to them. In that case, the Magnetic Cars 2 Pieces set adds two cars to the mix. It is a separate product from the figures and is an add-on for children who want things to drive around the scene. It costs €14.99.
Together, figures and cars let your child build a small world with residents and traffic, without you having to explain anything.
How to start playing with magnetic figures
You do not need a plan, but a few simple ideas help in the first session.
- Start with a home. Ask your child where each figure lives, and let them build it.
- Add a problem. A figure who is stuck, lost or wants a bigger house gives the story somewhere to go.
- Change the setting. Rebuild the scene as a farm one day and a castle the next. The figures stay the same, but the story changes.
- Let them lead. Offer a question rather than an instruction, such as who lives next door.
With younger children, keep the first builds small. A single room with one figure is enough. Older children will want to build several connected spaces and give each figure a role.
Is a figure set worth it on its own?
It depends on what you already own. If your child has a tile or block set, the figures are a low-cost way to make it more engaging. If your child has nothing yet, buy a building set first and add the figures later or at the same time.
For a gift, the figure set works well as a small, friendly present or as an add-on to a larger box. You can start small and grow the collection as your child shows what they like.
Our view
Magnetic animals are popular because they turn building into storytelling. A good set gives your child both the world and the characters, and it is easy for you to expand over time. The Magnetic Figures 4 Pieces set is a simple, affordable way to add characters to the tiles or blocks you already have, and it is suitable from age 3 (3+).
If you are still deciding, start with the figures and one building set, and see where your child takes it. Most families find the collection grows naturally from there.
Magnetic Figures 4 Pieces · €14.99
See all our magnetic tiles.
Frequently asked questions
Are the Magnetic Figures animals?
The set is called Magnetic Figures 4 Pieces and is described as figures. Check the product page to see exactly what the four figures look like before you buy.
What age are the magnetic figures suitable for?
They are suitable from age 3 (3+). The product information lists an age range of 3-12 years.
How many pieces are in the set?
The Magnetic Figures set contains 4 pieces.
Do I need a building set to use the figures?
The figures can be played with on their own, but they work best alongside a building set such as magnetic tiles or blocks, which gives your child a place to build for them.
What is the difference between magnetic tiles and magnetic blocks?
Tiles are flat pieces used for walls, floors and roofs. Blocks are cubes that stack and connect. They are different products and are not interchangeable.
What are Tilesminds sets made from?
Tilesminds products are made from recycled plastic, use non-toxic material and have strong magnets.
