Tell me about "Mega Blocks" please

[MarisaSF]

I was in Ross today and saw tons of "Mega Blocks" -- probably at a deep discount.

I assumed we'd be getting some sort of Lego/Duplo/etc. Which is what I grew up with. I *think* the advantage is that Lego/Duplo can fit together, right?

Can any give feedback about the Mega Blocks? Anyone get them? Regrets or raves?

[darby24]

Mega blocks is Canadian company started by I think two lawyers. They got by the Lego patent because it lapsed and they were able to figure a way in. I think that's the story at least.

My sister has the baby mega blocks (was given a truck with a load of them in the back.) The kids sort of play with them though it's only Jay, the baby just likes to throw them. They got that set when my first nephew was 1 1/2. She doesn't have any of the people or "sets" though.

I picked up a big tub of the bigger ones (think Duplo) on clearance after Christmas but my nephew is just starting to get into them at 3.

I advise against the Lego Primo as I was given a bunch from a neighbour. They're useless, the kids can't build anything and they just get stuck under my couch.

And of course, Mega Blocks and Lego aren't compatible.

[bchafin]

We have quite a few of the Mega Bloks. I really like them. My DS is 15 months. He likes to stack the blocks together and then tear them apart. We have several of the playsets (pirate ship, castle, Buzz ship). He doesn't play with them the "right" way yet, but they are still really great. I actually like them more than the Little People sets we have. We also have the Giant Castle set. That was a gift and I didn't know if he'd like it or just throw the large blocks all over the house. He really loves it. He runs in and out of the door and peeks at us through the windows. The regular Mega Blocks connect with it also. Right now I have my eye on the Wizard of Oz set that they just released. I'm sure we will get Lego when he gets older and can build those sets.
Good luck. I hope I helped.

Barb

[JBaxter]

Raves- keeps ds happy he love to put them to get and pull them apart or his older ds will build a tower for him to knock over
Regret - Picking them up when he is done ( not a biggie)

We have 3 sets. 1 was the wagon set he got for christmas and 2 came from yardsales very cheep.

[DebbieJ]

We have a set of Mega Bloks and a set of Duplo blocks.

It appears he has an easier time getting the Mega Bloks together. He can't quite do it with the Duplos yet.

~ deb
DS born at home 12/03

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[nd93]

We have both Megas and Legos.

Pros for Megas - they are large for little hands. Even a young toddler can get pieces to fit together. The people and animals are cute and even my older kids like them.

Cons for Megas - they do not stay stuck together. This may not be a con at first, but as my first 2 grew, they wanted to build towers as high as they could. The megas start to lean and then will fall over becuase they do not have a lot of sticking power. This would cause a lot of frustration. Legos (even the duplo ones) will stay stuck so you can build quite high!

We were given a set of megas and a set of duplos as gifts. I suppose it's nice having some of each, at least while I still have a toddler. As the kids get older we'll probably ditch the megas as being a "baby toy". But the people have been a hit (we were given a jungle safari type set). I do have a small green lego square for the kids to build on, and the mega pieces do fit on it.

[Corie]

We love them! I bought a couple of the bags of Mega blocks
at Target awhile ago.

It's funny because my 3.5 year old daughter just asked to
get them back out of her playroom closet and she has been
building like crazy.

I am going to check out the Wizard of Oz set that a PP
mentioned. Sounds cool. :)

[Corie]

These sets are fun to add to the blocks.



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[houseof3boys]

We really like them. Ryan has these, small regular legos and wooden blocks and they all seem to challenge him in different ways. I think they are worth it and you can just put them in the bathtub to wash them too!

[mudder17]

Mega blocks are definitely not made to precision the same way Lego blocks are. It's why the Mega blocks are easier to put together initially (looser fit), but Lego will stay together better. Personally, Kaya is doing pretty well with the Lego primo (they don't stay together, but they're great with the shape sorter), and she's learning to stack the Quattros (the really big blocks). She can get the duplo on the preschool table, but she can't get one duplo on another yet. Also, I have to admit, I'm kind of a Lego snob. ;) Actually, other than the lower quality of the Megablocs, the other reason I don't like Megablocs is that they're all made in China. That may not matter to most people, but it does matter to me. I also happen to have a ton of Lego sets that Kaya will some day grow into (she is totally fascinated by our technic super car that I put together), so I'd like her to start with the compatible Duplo.


Eileen

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[RwnMayfair]

My father and stepmother bought a set of Mega Blocks for their house, mainly because they found them really cheap somewhere and my stepmother really wanted a wagon for Taran to be able to play with. (They bought a wagon set.) We have Legos at our house though, both Quatros (the really big ones), and Duplos (the ones between Quatros and regular Legos). The advantage to the Mega blocks is that Taran was able to put them together sooner than even the Quatros. They're a lot easier to fit together because they're more forgiving about how you put them together. The disadvantage to them is that they don't stay together as well, and so consequently things you build with them fall apart somewhat easily.

Now that Taran's older, he's figured out how to put the Quatros and Duplos together, and he enjoys them a lot more because they don't fall apart easily. He get frustrated when his towers (the main thing he builds right now) fall apart, and that happens a lot more with Mega Blocks than with Legos. So the Mega Blocks have been great for at my Dad's house, primarily because he only plays with them occasionally. I prefer having the Legos here though - beyond the fact that they stay together better, they seem a smidge better quality-wise too.

Another neat thing I've discovered with Legos is that they're interchangeable. For instance, you can stick the Quatros onto the Duplo bases, and the Duplo table. I have vague memories of regular Legos being stickable with Duplos too, though I'll admit we don't currently have any regular Legos so I can't swear to that. Some of the Duplos also stick to some of the Quatros, though they aren't as interchangeable going backwards like that. ;)

-Melissa

Taran, November 20, 2003

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_emerald_18m.gif - Eighteen months!
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[ett]

We have mega blocks, Lego quattros, and Lego duplos. DS never really got into the Lego quattros (maybe they were too big?), but preferred the mega blocks when he was younger. I think the main reason for this is that the mega blocks are easier to connect as PPs have mentioned. Now that DS is older, he is more interested in playing with the lego duplos so I have put away the mega blocks. I plan on sticking with Legos because quality wise they are better than the mega blocks and they're not made in China.

[MarisaSF]

THANKS for all your input!

Can someone briefly explain the "Made in China" thing? Or point me to a link?

Is it a trade issue? Is it child/unfair labor? Is it just that you prefer to buy US?

I feel so uninformed, but I do try to put my money where my mouth is.

[mudder17]

I don't know about other people, but for me, it's partly because of the unfair labor thing and partly because I prefer to buy US, although that's not entirely true since Lego are made in Denmark. It's also because a lot of the things I used to get that were made in China were not as high quality. When I compare Megablocs with Lego, I can definitely see a big difference in quality. Also, one final thing which is not going to be true for a lot of people is that I am Taiwanese and our family (my parent's generation) was blacklisted by the Chinese government for speaking out for Taiwanese independence. Even now, friends/relatives of my parents have been bullied or intimidated in some way because they've been open about their belief that Taiwan should be independent. I guess that would also make it a political reason for me.


Eileen

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[mudder17]

Quattros can fit on top of duplos, duplos can fit on top of regular bricks, but not vice versa (yes we have all three, here and no Megablocks). :)

Eileen

http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/candle.gif for Leah

http://www.gynosaur.com/assets/ribbons/ribbon_gold_12m.gif , 17 months & counting


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