Magnetic Designer

Magnetic Designer - Use wand to move metal discs

Magnetic Designer allows you to create simple pictures by moving the small, colored, flattened discs around the board with a pencil-type tool. The 19 X 14 spaced white grid sits in a yellow base and they are both hard plastic. There is a clear piece of plastic over the top, so all the discs are enclosed and cannot get out.

The discs are metal and the tool that is tethered to the board has a magnet on the end. Hover the tool over a piece and it will jump up to meet your magnet. Carefully move the magnet and piece so that they are right above the space where you want it to go. Then lift the tool and the piece will drop into place. The pieces all start out at the bottom until you move them. Once you are done, pick up the board and shake and the pieces drop to the bottom.

In the reviews for this game, the chief complaint was the pieces getting stuck between the grid and the clear cover while trying to shake them down to the bottom. I have had trouble with this too, but they eventually move if you keep working at it.

IMPORTANT: The 15 pattern cards are sold separately for $7. They measure 8.5" x 11" and are printed on one side. It will take some counting of pieces and spaces on the board to keep the design on track. Pictures include a butterfly, a train and a house.

Move carefully as you build because if you get too close to a piece that is already placed it may be moved by your magnet as you go by. I admit I have not used this item as much as I thought i would. It can be tedious and time consuming moving the pieces one at a time with the tool.

Try this:

• Make each design row by row, then go back and try column by column.
• Lay a piece of plain white paper over the pattern card. Move it down to reveal one new row (or column) at a time. Complete the row on the board, then move the paper down and complete the next row. With such a big grid and so many pieces it can be hard to stay on track.
• Catch mistakes as they are made as trying to move an incorrectly placed disc once others are around it can prove difficult. Plus, it is tedious moving that many pieces to begin with, one by one, and if you keep building on an error, you will have to remove and redo from there.
• Work on visual discrimination, visual tracing, visual closure, eye-hand coordination, manual dexterity, tool use, functional grasp, visual memory, counting, process skills, executive functioning skills, play and leisure exploration and participation
  
  In the box: One plastic board with enclosed discs and wand
  15 cards sold separately
   

If you are interested in purchasing this item or just want more information, go to Lakeshore Learning.