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Giveaway & Review: Magneatos Magnetic Construction Set by Guidecraft [CLOSED]

Our children are all about building blocks and erector sets. This makes my husband and I so happy because most construction sets are battery-free toys. Magneatos, the award-winning magnetic construction set suitable for ages 2 and up, is unlike any building toy my children have ever owned.

This colorful toy is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers, but has managed to engage our kindergartner as well. The pieces were much larger and chunkier than I had expected, making this toy perfect for little hands and also very durable. For toddlers, this toy is an excellent tool for teaching basic colors and for matching and sorting by colors and size. For preschoolers, this toy is great for learning counting and about the general principles of magnets.



These basic shapes also force children to use their imaginations when building unlike sets that have specialized parts. This particular 72pc Magneatos Set comes with two different lengths of cylindrical rods that have polar magnets on the ends along with jumbo balls. My 6yr old suggested that Guidecraft should add curved and bendable pieces to these sets, but he does not know that such pieces are available in the Magneatos Curves sets and the Magneatos Jumbo Master Builder Series.


This set is a bit challenging to master, especially if your goal is to build something complex. I have seen both my 3yr old daughter and my 6yr old son get frustrated because what they are building did not hold its shape. This toy really teaches patience because there is a balance that needs to be maintained in order for any upward building to be successful.

Below are some examples of structures built by my 6yr old son . . .

A Star and A House

A Scooter

Out of all the things my children have built with Magneatos, their favorite things are microphones and flutes. They never get tired of building those two things and then putting on a show.

You can purchase eight different Magneatos building sets right on Guidecraft.com . To learn more about Guidecraft toys and children's furniture, visit Guidecraft on Facebook and Guidecraft on Twitter.


Thank you to Guidecraft for providing a sample building set free of charge for us to base this review upon and for providing another set for our contest prize.



What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a Magneatos 72pc Building Set (ARV $60).


Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.


How to Gain Entries:
Browse the selection of new Guidecraft products for 2010. Then leave a comment telling me which new product is your favorite. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND Guidecraft.com
. Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.


4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.


5) For one extra entry each, "Like" Guidecraft on Facebook and/or follow Guidecraft on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook or Twitter profile.


6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8)
Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.


9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.




(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, May 31st, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!