Two Magnetic Sets, Different Play Styles
Guidecraft's Grippies line offers two magnetic building sets designed for toddlers 18 months and older: Grippies Shakers and Grippies Stackers. Both use magnetic rods and connectors to encourage hands-on exploration, but each set leans into a different kind of play. The Shakers add sound and motion, while the Stackers focus on nesting, balancing, and social-emotional play. Choosing between them depends on what kind of sensory and building experience you want for your toddler.
At a Glance: What Each Set Offers
- Grippies® Shakers: Grippies Shakers bring kinetic energy and sound exploration to the award-winning toddler STEM platform, Grippies! Connect the two-sized, magnetic rods to each other or combine them with the overmolded metal ball connectors to create a uniquely soothing acoustic building experience. Toddlers can watch the sensory beads rattle their way down the magnetic rods through clear ABS plastic windows. The built-in rattle beads and clear windows add an auditory and visual sensory layer that makes this set especially engaging for toddlers who are drawn to cause-and-effect sounds.
Grippies® Shakers - Grippies® Stackers: Encourage spatial and social emotional play with toddler STEM toy Grippies® Stackers. Assemble communities with interlocking magnetic 2D and 3D builds or nest the expressive cylinders in between textured X-shaped blocks. Tactile grips and over-molded plastic make these secure magnetic construction toys soft to touch and easy for little hands to hold. The Stackers include expressive cylinders and textured X-blocks that invite social role-play and pattern matching, offering a different kind of sensory input focused on touch and visual alignment.
Grippies® Stackers
Key Differences: Sound, Texture, and Building Style
The main difference between the two sets is the type of sensory feedback they provide. Grippies Shakers use magnetic rods with internal beads that rattle as toddlers move them, combined with metal ball connectors. The clear plastic windows let children see the beads travel, adding a visual element to the sound. This set is ideal for toddlers who enjoy auditory exploration and watching cause and effect in action.
Grippies Stackers, on the other hand, emphasize tactile variety and spatial play. The set includes textured X-shaped blocks and smooth, expressive cylinders that nestle between them. The over-molded plastic feels soft to the touch, and the cylinders' faces can suggest emotions, which opens the door for social-emotional play. Building communities and balancing the cylinders between blocks encourages patterning and matching skills.
- Sensory Focus: Shakers: auditory and visual (rattle beads, clear windows). Stackers: tactile and spatial (textured blocks, smooth cylinders).
- Building Style: Shakers: connect rods to ball connectors or each other for open-ended magnetic structures. Stackers: nest cylinders between X-blocks or create 2D/3D magnetic builds.
- Play Themes: Shakers: kinetic energy, sound exploration, engineering. Stackers: community building, social-emotional play, patterning and balancing.
Shared Quality and Care
Both Grippies sets are made from durable, easy-to-clean materials. Guidecraft recommends wiping them clean with a damp cloth and mild soap, then air drying completely. Do not submerge them in water or put them in a dishwasher or washing machine. The over-molded plastic construction is designed to be soft for little hands and built to last, making both sets suitable for home and classroom use.
Which Set Should You Choose?
If your toddler is fascinated by sounds and motion, Grippies Shakers (available in 20 or 30 piece sets) will likely hold their attention longer. The rattle beads and clear windows provide a multi-sensory building experience that combines engineering with cause-and-effect play.
If your child enjoys sorting, stacking, and creating little worlds with expressive characters, Grippies Stackers (available in 16 or 24 piece sets) offer textured blocks and cylinders that encourage patterning, balancing, and social storytelling. Both sets are compatible with each other, so you can also combine them for an even richer magnetic building experience.
