CRASH!!
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!! STOP IT!!! ALL DONE ‘FALL DOWN!’”
Uh-oh. I knew that sound. It was the sound of a dozen plastic pieces simultaneously hitting the hardwood floor.
It was the sound of 45 minutes of careful concentration, coordination and construction completely down the drain.
It was more than the sound of a collapsing toy structure, more than the mild annoyance of having to rebuild it yet again…
It was the sound of ultimate frustration.
It was the sound of the last tiny thread of patience being suddenly severed.
It was the sound…
…of heartbreak.
I knew what was about to unfold. And I was powerless to stop it.
The wails and screams started, indicating the beginnings of a meltdown that could no-longer be held at bay.
And the shrieks of a normally joyous day, we’re turned to screams of frustration, rage and fury.
You see, yesterday we officially celebrated Jonah’s 8th birthday (a couple weeks late). I thought I had found Jonah the perfect birthday present.
It was the “Picasso Tiles Marble Run” set.
One of Jonah’s favorite toys, one of his favorite THINGS in the whole world is his Marble Run set. (Or more accurately, “Sets” —plural).
In a marble run set, marbles consistently flow back and forth down a carefully built, sturdy multi-colored track.
It’s predictable. It’s repetitive. It’s a sensory haven.
But most importantly, “it just WORKS.”
Picasso tiles are also fun. They are a creative building system using magnets inside flattened geometric building pieces to construct different fun designs.
They are usually pretty solid and reliable building constructs.
Usually.
So someone decided, why not COMBINE these two magnificent inventions and have the best of both worlds?
Kids can build to their heart’s content. And then they can run WEIGHTED MARBLES down their creations, adding to the further enjoyment of the BEST sensory toy ever imagined!
😒
Except, it’s NOT the “best of both worlds.”
Turns out, it’s the WORST of both worlds.
Magnetic tiles are not great support structures for anything more than about twice their weight.
And in order for marbles to “descend” down the structure, they need to continually roll downhill, which also means the structure must have enough height to perpetuate the forward motion. Which means they must be built “high.” And the more height is added to the structure, the more weight is also added…
(You see where I’m headed.)
The best feature of magnetic building tiles is not their size, their shape, or their design.
Their best feature is that they work. When you stick one tile to another, it stays in place.
Similarly, the best feature of the marble run is that it “WORKS”… with regulation, repetition, and continuity.
THIS TOY… 🤬🤬🤬
I mean, it’s not like it’s just a “broken toy,” and we can go get another one at the store. There is not a “simple solution” to a bad design.
Simply put, this toy just does not work.
I think the hardest part is that Jonah was absolutely SOLD on the idea and in his mind, this toy could very well be his NEW favorite toy in the world.
But to have it simply NOT WORK makes it the greatest “disappointment” in the world.
Ugh. But I can’t just “get rid” of it. Jonah wants to enjoy the POTENTIAL of this toy with his entire being. And yet…
😭😭😭
I hate this stupid toy with a passion.
It needs to be gone from our lives.
Rapidly.
**edit Mama and I WERE able to put “something” together using this set up, but you cannot touch it, you cannot walk around it or even BREATHE on it, or the whole thing will collapse.
