I just love robots and this is one of the most creative ideas for robots and magnets that I have seen.
Creating your own magnetic play set
I started out by collecting a variety of tin cans. I didn’t have the kind of can opener that leaves the inside completely smooth so to make sure there were no sharp edges, my brother sanded the inside edges for me with a metal sander. It took him about 15 minutes to sand down all my cans. But you can find can openers that will leave smooth edges – I will have to look for one of those. Along with collecting tin cans, I also have been collecting milk jug lids and other types of lids of various colors and sizes.
I also bought a few small plastic Slinkys to add to my magnetic play set. Just about everything you see here has a round magnet glued to the back of it using Soho glue. I glued each end of a slinky inside a milk jug lid and then glued a magnet on the back of the milk jug lid.
Here are some folks that have enjoyed the magnets.
Grandma and Wy playing with magnets
Wy, Eric, and I working on the sets together
Wy working all by himself!
I can’t tell you how fun this has been to play with over the summer and I look forward to sharing it with my class this fall.
Here’s how to create your own magnets
Glue magnets onto lids
Magnets glued onto the cans
Slinkys glued onto the inside of lids
Available on Amazon
Is that an oil pan you’re using to play with the magnets on?
Haha – yes it is! I got the oil pan after reading a post from Brick by Brick. https://scottsbricks.blogspot.com/2011/01/favorite-things-oil-drip-pan-and-magnet.html
I LOVE this! What an amazing idea, my girls will be in heaven tinkering with these all day. Awesome and so much fun!
It really is something that you just want to sit and “tinker” with.
Brilliant! x
Thanks for stopping by!
Love the slinkys on the magnets! Now I have to make those as well! all your ideas keep me very busy! 🙂
Haha – I keep myself busy too:)
I love the look of these! I’d be great to get the kids involved in gluing all the pieces together, so they could make a set to go home too! I love the slinky’s and wonder how they’ll hold up under repeated use? I know my kids have them in knots in minutes usually! 🙂
I figure they wont last forever but because I have the kids sit and use them as a part of the magnet table rather than trying to play with them in the customary way- so far so good.
Awesome idea!! i can’t way to make this.
Thanks for stopping by Eva:)
Hi Deborah! As a fellow preschool teacher , I have a difficult time recycling containers in my kitchen as I am sure that they could be put to good use in preschool. In order to help contain this collection, I allow myself one kitchen sized trash bag which is hung in the pantry. When the bag is full, I go through it and set aside important containers for projects then and recycle the rest. This magnet activity is perfect for my next project!! Did you use tacky glue? How well are the magnets staying attached. With all of the ideas… Read more »
Hi Barbara, I used tacky glue to glue the magnets to the plastic pieces and cans. But I found since this that you can also just teach the children how to place a magnet between the cans (can – magnet – can) and the can stick the cans together anyway they wish. The glue has held up really well for the plastic pieces but the tacky glue doesn’t do as well on the cans after awhile (they don’t fall off but peel off more easily) so I am still thinking of what I should use for gluing the magnets to… Read more »
Oh—colorful, creative, endless fun. Wonderful open-ended play!
Very open ended:)
What is soho glue? I would think using hot glue to attach the magnets? I love this idea, by the way, empty cans and slinkies are the first things I will be asking my parents to donate this year! Did you also glue wiggle eyes to some of the lids? Too cute!!
It is tacky glue and is available in most places where the sell craft supplies.
Oh, and yes – I did glue googly eyes inside some of the caps too:)
I love this idea! I had seen posts on making robots with boxes but this is new! We will do this with my boys and my preschool classroom. Thanks! 🙂
Great! I hope the boys enjoy it!
What a completely awesome idea!! I just love this. Best idea I’ve seen in a long time! I’m definitely going to make a set. Thanks! I love how much you’re getting done. Inspirational for me on those days when I’m in a slump! LOL
I haven’t hit a slump yet but I actually look kind of forward to one for a few days! LOL!
Slinkys with magnets on the end? I think that’s pure genius. I can’t wait to add that to my magnet stuff. And lids with magnets. I have collected so many lids that I need something new to do with them. Thanks!
Fun way to use lids and we love the slinky magnets. We can use them for telephone play too!
This is just the cutest thing. I am going to make one for my grandkids. They will love it. I am also going to pass it along to my readers who will love it too. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for passing it along:)
You can pick up one of those nifty can openers at Wal-Mart for $15 -$20 dollars. They are battery operated and one-button push operated. A little more that I ever though of paying for a can opener but with small children they are worth while!
I will definitely look for one. It would make this much simpler:)
Wow. This is so wonderful. The kids would surely love to have those stuff. I think Wy had a great time doing those stuff with you. I didn’t know Slinkies are still in the market.
Yes, Slinkys are still available but the only ones I could find were the little plastic ones that are in with the party supplies.
this is great… so creative! i think my son would love this!
and thanks for stopping by over at my site… hope to see you there again soon!
Thanks for stopping by here too:)
Awesome! I’m going to make some for my classroom. Thanks for the idea.
I think this is a super-cute idea but what about the safety of the magnets themselves? What size magnets did you use and are they large enough that if they fell off the pieces they wouldn’t pose a choking hazard? Magnets are so dangerous, especially if they get swallowed and then connect together.
No doubt that you will want to consider safety and monitor the children who use this. I would not suggest this for the very young preschooler (toddlers) but I used it with my nephew so far who is only 21/2 and he did quite well and understood not to put the magnets in his mouth. They are definitely a choking hazard and monitoring young children is a must. There IS every possibility the magnets can fall off.
Great idea!
This is such a terrific idea…It makes me want to play too 🙂
Georgia 🙂
Thanks for the mention…just realized you posted this via The Wonder Years!
Looks like you had a lot of FUN!
We LOVE these!
I can’t tell you how much I love this post! I’ll definitely have to put this together for my son! Thank you for sharing. I’ve pinned and will share!
Thank you Joyce:) It is one of my favorites too!
I was just led to your site and this project from Pinterest…what a wonderful idea! I have four children who will love this as well as my art students who will go crazy for this! What a great art center idea (really for any age) as well as a wonderful way to show how we can recycle objects into art and a lesson in sculpture (all while being super fun!). I am in trouble with this project–I’m going to be collecting all sorts of things to make into robots! (My hubby also owns an automotive shop, so I’m going to… Read more »
Wow – you have all the right materials and thought processes to make this process wonderful!
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I do not want to use any glue that does not hold these magnets tight….I’m using these with preschool and to me if they are under the age of 5 I don’t want to take a chance with the magnets. These are for VBS and I have one 2 1/2 year old that wouldn’t listen if I told him not to put a magnet in his mouth. Wonder about clear Gorilla glue? That stuff holds forever…..but don’t know if it will work on metal. Any one have any ideas?
Hi Linda! I like to use E6000 glue but I have found that the magnets will come off of plastic pieces pretty easily but not off of metal pieces..
This week is Robot Week in our preschool class and I’ve duplicated your efforts! The children are thoroughly enjoying playing with the magnets. Thank you for sharing your ideas.