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Magnet-Board Games

Several years ago ... and I'm talking at least eight years ago ... I really got into a "file folder games" kick.  At the time I was looking for something that would entertain Eliza during the 70 minutes sacrament meeting at church every Sunday.  I was looking for something quiet and self-directing that would also provide some sort of learning for her.  There were a couple glitches when it came to making file folder games.

I'm sure most of you are familiar with them.  There's a base picture with velcro pieces on it, and little cut-outs with the opposite piece of velcro on their back sides.  The child matches the little pieces to the pictures on the base (which is glued to the file folder).

There were a couple of glitches when it came to making and utilizing these file folder games.  One: I didn't like covering up the pictures with the tiny velcro pieces.  Two: I didn't like the noise/sound that would occur when taking the small cut-out pictures off the folder; it didn't seem very reverent and quiet.

That's when I had my brilliant (if not, much-more-expensive-than-velcro) idea: MAGNETS!  I found one of my old metal boards used for cross-stitching, and then purchased some adhesive sheets of magnet material.  I colored and cut, and adhered the pictures to the sheet of magnet material, then cut them out.  I placed small square magnets in the corners of the base pictures, and TA-DA!  Perfect!  Easy to use, and very quiet.

Years went by, Eliza and Kate both used these file folder games (which I dubbed, "magnet-board games"), then they were put away for some reason or another.  One day, as I was searching through boxes in the garage, I came across this magnet-board games kit.  I pulled it out, and Adam proceeded to play game after game until he had played them all, and well, made a giant mess of everything!  But, no matter, he was learning, having fun, and doing it all quietly!  I am so grateful I found them again after all these years, and can't wait to add to them!

Comments

The Hill Clan said…
Oh, good idea Marisa!! I am always looking for things to help my children stay quiet during sacrament meeting, mainly Isaac. I think he'd love these though. I just might have to make some of my own!!
Aubrey A said…
I never made Velcro books for that very same reason: they were too noisy. Still, I never thought about magnets. Brilliant idea! Don't you love it when you can reuse old things that you've squirreled away on younger children and it's just like Christmas for them!! Yay!!
Kelley Rae said…
I used magnets too but just cut up little squares instead of squares of vlecro. But then there's the problem of an ugly black square covering up the cute picture. Sounds like you found the perfect solution. I'll definitely remember that if I ever get the motivation to make more.

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