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Comment by andyjohnson0 | Hacker News Reader

> I highly recommend this kind of simple toy for young children.

As a parent I very much agree. And for grown-up children too.

On my desk I have a small tin containing small wooden blocks and planks, arches, etc. I get lots of play value from them - when my thinking is blocked, or if I just want to fool around and not think at all. I'm in my mid fifties.

And over at my climbing club's off-grid climbing hut we have a big box of over-sized, home made jenga blocks. Pretty-much everyone plays with them: not only jenga, but also just building structures or giant domino runs or whatever.

We all need to play sometimes.

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Encountered these miniature wood marble runs in Switzerland. Still on my “wish list.” Sounds like you may enjoy them, too.

https://cuboro.ch/en/

Very cool. I live in the US though. How can I order it?

Looks like their site links to a good number of US stores that sell them, many mom/pop. While there may not be a store close enough to you, perhaps there's one that would ship to you.

https://a.co/d/24vvgsO

Support mom/pop/local shops when possible.

https://cuboro.ch/en/where-to-buy/

I wonder if these are as good as the Cuboro or not. I'm guessing there are big quality differences.

Sticking to the magnetile theme of the OP, my kids and I have spent the most time and most occasions playing with the mangetile marble run kits. It works so well.

Thank you.

That gets you into the marble run world... which is segment of YouTube... and there are some very impressive setups.

https://youtu.be/qGsD19P16rs

As an aside, there's an app out there is an app for the iPad called "Cuboro Riddles" which is a "how do you make the marble go from here to there using the blocks." Given that there are multiple ways that a block can channel a marble, this is a tricky one.

... and then if you get this over into the lego domain (not as "just something to fiddle with..." it gets you into the GBC. There is a standard for how one connects to another described at https://www.greatballcontraption.com/wiki/standard ... and then at lego conventions people hook them all up. https://youtu.be/avyh-36jEqA

I'm in awe of the video you shared of the set up.

Those look super cool, but I'm also not sure I'd be ready to throw down $340 for the 50 piece starter set.

I bought the magnatile-knockoff-version essentially and while not as pure montessori as the wooden blocks, they're 1/10th the price and my 4-year-old is _loving_ this kit: https://amzn.to/3MVXRXg

Wood's expensive these days. It's probably costing close to a ton just for the nice beech they're made of.

Beech is the cheapest of the common European hardwoods. Even through a distributor it’s only about 1400-1700 € per cubic meter in 5cm / 2” planks. For context, the cheapest construction lumber is about 300-800, oak 2500, american walnut 4000.

Have you tried buying cheap crappy sheathing ply recently?

It’s not great compared to 10 years ago, but the last 3 years it’s been pretty stable. About 11-15 euros incl VAT per square meter at retail prices for the cheapest 3-ply 9mm and 5-ply 12mm softwood ply, brazilian import.

I dabble in furniture, which means I’m looking at baltic birch plywood, at about 40 euros per square meter of 15mm 11-ply sheets. At that pricepoint I might as well buy actual hardwood lumber.

If you are okay with plastic, Gravitrax is similar, cheaper, and fun. My son and I like to build marble runs together.

These are beautiful

As an adult, I bought on impulse a set of wooden dominos intended for domino runs. It included a few other props. It was on clearance for almost nothing because the box was damaged.

With friends and family on occasion (individuals ranging in age from 27-70) , multiple hours have passed setting up and playing with this domino set.

I really believe that play is vitally important at all ages.

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