Pitch: Players (age 3+) snap together magnetic shapes to build pyramids, rocket ships and more.
Payoff: They’re essentially a sleeker version of basic building blocks, which the American Academy of Pediatrics calls a “true toy, with which children use their imagination fully, [unlike] passive toys that require limited imagination.” Translation: sometimes the simplest toys inspire the most creative thinking.
Price: $49.50 for a 32-piece set; available here.