Does this sound familiar? The floor is covered in toys, but your child is sitting bored next to them, unsure of what to do. For a long time, it was exactly the same for us – until we realized that it wasn't more toys that were needed, but simply the right mix.
Since our children have had AVDAR wooden blocks, CONNETIX magnetic tiles, and a Play&Go playmat, our afternoons are often quiet – in a good way. You only hear soft murmuring, building sounds, and occasionally a "Look what I built!" We wanted to tell you how these three things work together for us – in case you're currently wondering what else you could give your child to play with.
How it all began
Initially, we "only" had the AVDAR wooden blocks. Beautifully crafted, warm wood, grows with the child – but eventually, our son had built every house, every tower, and every landscape he could think of, and then came the point where he said: "Mom, I don't know what else to build."
That's when we started adding the CONNETIX magnetic tiles – initially just to try them out. And honestly, we were surprised ourselves how quickly two separate boxes turned into one shared game.
When wood meets magnets
The great thing is: wooden blocks and magnetic tiles don't "compete" with each other; they simply complement each other. Our son likes to use the AVDAR blocks to build the basic structure – a house, a small castle, sometimes an entire village. And then the CONNETIX pieces are added: a transparent gate as an entrance, a tower on top, a small bridge between two houses. Suddenly, his wooden city has windows that glow when the sun shines through, and gates through which the small AVDAR figures can walk. At first, we thought it would be chaotic – two completely different materials, different shapes, different color palettes. In fact, it's the exact opposite: the warm wood gives the entire construction a calm, grounded framework, while the colorful, transparent magnetic tiles provide those little "wow" moments. And because the magnets hold so well, he can build higher and more daringly without everything collapsing immediately.
The playmat that holds everything together
Honestly, the real game-changer for us was the Play&Go mat. Before, we collected building blocks from all over the living room; now, everything stays on the mat. Our son spreads it out on the floor in the morning, builds his wooden and magnetic world on it, and when he's done or we call him for dinner, he simply pulls the cord – and everything is stowed away. No more discussions about tidying up, no more "I'll do it later," just pull it closed, done. And because the mat is also the bag, we now take it to Grandma and Grandpa's or to the garden. The whole game simply travels with us, without having to pack an extra box. A small detail that we really like: some Play&Go mats have roads or a small city printed on them. For our son, it's like a ready-made stage for his AVDAR and CONNETIX constructions – houses and towers then stand directly on "real" roads, and cars drive along the printed paths. So the mat not only serves as storage but also becomes part of the game itself, almost like a play surface or a small play blanket with its own story.
Why we recommend all three together
We are not pedagogical experts, but as parents, we simply notice: Our children play longer, more focused, and with more of their own ideas when they have these three things available together, rather than separately. The wood provides warmth and history, the magnets provide structure and that little wow effect, and the mat provides a framework for everything – for playing and for tidying up. That's why we decided to offer all three brands at Lunumi Kids: because they simply work really well together in our home, and we hope they do the same for you.
If you'd like to try it yourself: