4 Fun and Creative Builds to Make with the CONNETIX Portal Pack

By Kathleen Prinsen

Just when you thought open-ended play with CONNETIX couldn’t possibly get any more amazing…along comes the Portal Pack!

This pack invites your little creators to imagine new ways to play like never before. It features three exciting shapes in all your favourite rainbow colours, plus an additional two new colours (pink and teal). It doesn’t matter if your kids are seasoned CONNETIX engineers or just starting their CONNETIX journey, this pack brings fresh energy, creativity and a bunch of excitement. Keep reading to discover some inspiring ways to use the Portal Pack in your home, educational space, or childcare setting.

1. Treehouse

This cute tree house brings a new level of excitement to imaginative play. The unique large portals let you snap a standard square right into the centre, which is perfect for lifting your treehouse high off the ground. Simply stack two layers of tiles underneath to give it that elevated, tree-top feel. Use mini tiles to add railings and ‘posts’ to hold up the roof. Then build a ladder with two magnetic fence tiles and a slide using a long ramp from the CONNETIX Roads range.

Now you’ve got a fun way to get up and down your awesome treehouse. For a special touch, decorate with a little greenery to make it feel like a real hideaway among the trees. Now it’s time to invite your child’s favourite figurines and let the storytelling adventures begin!

2. Swing

Get ready to build a swing that actually moves! It’s a quick and interactive build, requiring just two standard portals and a handful of mini squares from the Portal Pack. You can also use a chenille stem if you’d like to swing a little figurine (like a little LEGO person). Start by building the poles in the centre of the two standard portals. Then connect them across the top with mini tiles to form the swing’s frame. Next, create the seat using three mini tiles and position it right in the middle. Give it a gentle push and watch it swing back and forth.

Why does it swing with mini tiles when standard tiles can’t? That’s the magic of the CONNETIX Smart-Spin technology and extra strong magnets. It makes the swinging movement possible and a cool learning point to discuss with little learners. Don’t just stop at an empty seat! Add a little figurine, secure it with a chenille steam and get ready for endless swinging fun.

3. Mailbox

Here’s a CONNETIX mailbox that sits neatly on a pole. Just like the treehouse, the large portal tiles allow a pole (made with standard tiles) to be centred underneath the mailbox, elevating it off the ground. Use mini tiles to create a small slot for letters and add a rotating flag with red mini tiles. The CONNETIX Smart-Spin technology and strong magnets allow this flag to move up and down just like a real mailbox! Give your mailbox some personality by adding a house number (e.g. with magnetic foam numbers) and writing ‘Mailbox’ with a chalk marker.

At the back, a standard portal tile doubles as a little door to retrieve letters, making this little mailbox even more interactive. Now all that’s left is to grab some paper and pens, write letters with your kids, and post away.

4. Birthday Cake

Making birthday cakes with CONNETIX has always been a fun activity to do. Now you can have even more fun using the new mini tiles from the Portal Pack. Begin this build by using clear tiles to create a two-layered round cake shape. Next, use three 4×1 rectangles to build the garland frame and decorate it with four small equilateral triangles. Now it’s time to decorate the cake. Add mini tiles randomly across the cake to create a playful confetti effect. Then top it off with a number made from mini tiles. For a special touch, add the new CONNETIX light-up tile, turn the lights off, and watch this beautiful cake glow.

These are just a few of the ways your kids can explore and build with the CONNETIX Portal Pack. Let this blog inspire their imagination and watch as they experiment, play and create. Another awesome masterpiece is just waiting to come to life!

Kathleen Prinsen

Katie is a pharmacist who found a passion for play when she became a mum of 2 boys. She enjoys inspiring creativity and learning through play. Katie especially loves experimenting and creating with Connetix Tiles. You can find more of her play ideas on her Instagram account @dudekidz.

Stay Updated

If you’d like to be informed when we release one of our new articles about open-ended play and STEAM concepts, please subscribe below.

X/Twitter

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.