MindWareQ-Ba-Maze Warm Colors

I gave two sets to my niece and nephew for Christmas last year. They were both six years old. Age-wise, it would probably have been a better gift at age seven or eight, as they needed help constructing the bigger mazes. To be honest, they didn't really understand how to create a path with the blocks for probably the first two or three days. But they thoroughly enjoyed this gift anyways.At first the twins would just tell us what they wanted to build, and my husband and I would build it for them, and then they would play with that maze for an hour or more. After watching us build for a while, the kids got in on the creative process. They did have trouble making some of the blocks connect to each other, but that's what makes this a good hand-eye coordination trainer.To scaffold their introduction, my husband and I would sort through all the different types of blocks and divide them into building sets: one for each twin and one set for the adults. The twins would then each build their own little mini mazes, and then my husband and I would use the remaining blocks to figure out how to attach their mini mazes together to create one giant maze. The kids loved this.If you build and design multiple paths into the maze, the kids can predict which marbles will get down first or which way they will go. You can create mazes with lots of entry and exit points, and then have the kids predict which exit each marble will take; later you can have them explain why they think the marble went that way.I will warn you that this toy is loud! Your kids will drop in several marbles at once (and over and over) and the little metal balls click and clack as they fall through the plastic, making a tremendous racket. But it's tons of fun.I absolutely love this toy and personally I could play with it for hours; thankfully it also held the kids' attention for extended periods of time, allowing me to enjoy spending time with them and enjoy play time myself. I think my middle school students would love it, I just wish it was a little quieter so that I could put it on my science exploration table.

In the lobby of Children's Hospital - Boston, there is an audiokinectic sculpture by George Rhoads called "Bippity Boppity Balls." This massive and intricate Plexiglass-enclosed installation features "small rubber balls (that) zip along a multicolored track, triggering a series of sounds as they meet wooden blocks, bells, and metal chambers."I honestly think my son thought he was getting that sculpture in this box. Though it lacks the bells and whistles, this product provides tons of stimulating 3-D design play. This is a highly tactile and manipulative-type toy. The box says it all: "Three kinds of cubes. Countless possibilities."As with many toys in the age range of 8+, it's important to read the directions and lay out the pieces in size, shape and orientation before getting started. This is the age when the free-form play of the early years is replaced by following detailed instructions for maximum enjoyment.The toys in this age range, though, are fluid enough that once they grasp the "building code" they can construct their own models.This was a well-designed and sturdy product. My son has already added more sets to his Amazon Wish List.

I have given these toys away to several kids and I don't think any of them have been ecstatic to receive it. However, I know that this set really captures their imagination, because I've been asked to get add-on sets for future gifts. Once you start building with these "blocks", you are hooked! Visually appealing, and easy to use, but allows for a wide variety of complexity in design. We have children from 5-11 and their parents all playing with it!

My grandson had played with a marble building set on display in a toystore and loved it. He is only 5 but I thought this would be good seeing he likes Legos. It is really tricky in that you have to only pair certain pieces in order for it to work. He liked playing with it once it was built but it needs an adult or much older child to construct. Unless the design has a wide base it falls over easily.

Nice set for the price. My grandson LOVES marble runs and this was a unique one he enjoyed. He is a very bright 4-5 year old and could put it together quite easily.

When we tried this at the store it looked like a lots of fun and easy. Just stack it any way and see which way the marbles go. NO, NO!As soon as we got my 11 yo and I tried to make the first maze according to the instructions and we miserably failed. Pieces do not stay where placed and pop up. Tried few different approaches, but none worked. So I decide to make my own design. What a piece of c..p! You can't make your own design! The metal "marbles" get stuck if plastic pieces are not placed according to the design. I gave up, my son gave up. This is going back!

My three year old son and I played with this toy at a toy store and it was pretty fun. Really complicated, but fun. Definitely more fun for my son to play at the toy store than to own. And if it worked I would just put it away until he was older. But the pieces did not stick together. They kept popping off and it was really really really annoying. So I am returning it. I don't know if this version sat in the sun and shrunk or what happened because the one at the store seemed fine.

It is what it says it is, I just didn't expect the box to be so small I guess. But all the pieces are there. I played around with it a little (then wrapped it for Christmas :) It seems really great and I am sure my kids will love it!

Bought 2 sets for Christmas. 2.5 and 4.5 yr old kids Love them! I have to build the mazes and plans for them, but they independently played with the maze for quite awhile.I'd recommend placing your maze on a cookie sheet or something to catch all the marbles. Once they get going some tend to pop out the sides and they can easily roll all over the room and get lost if you're not careful.

Bought is as a birthday present for my 5 year old niece. She loved it almost as much as the adults who helped her build it! I think we've hit on a present at we can come back to and add to for some time.

These Q ba maze blocks are okay. They aren't really appropriate for younger kids as they have trouble fitting them together. The plastic is also a little brittle so if the kids are too rough, the edges with the groove that allow you to fit the pieces together break. I bought a few different sets of these for my son and he broke a bunch of the pieces. I ended up buying him a different kind of marble run for his next birthday which is easier for him to put together and a lot more durable.

Bought as a gift and the recipient loved it!

Bought as gift