Everyone knows the obvious things you can do with linking cubes (sometimes also called MathLink Cubes, Snap Cubes). Learn to count, add, sort…
All valid and true… but a bit boring.
These humble little cubes have way more to offer. Here are 7 cool ideas for you and your kids to try!
To geek out on the different types of linking cubes, check out my super detailed guide to linking cubes.
1. Spinning tops galore
If you’ve ever been dragged into the Beyblade or Lego Spinjitzu craze, it’s hard to deny that there’s something mesmerizing about watching these tops spin, swirl and… crash into pieces.
You can make some great spinning tops using linking cubes. They spin remarkably well, and you can try out different designs and shapes to see which ones spin the best.
Here’s a video of my son trying out different tops:
Try out different designs, and see which shapes give the longest spinning time, or deliver the bets knock-out punch in a spinning battle. Here are some designs to start you off:
Even better: Have a battle! See who’s top will be crowned the king spinner by either out-spinning the other, or cause their opponent to crash out of contention.
Think you’ve built a top that outlasts all the others? A spinning sensation that should be crowned king of the ring? Take a video of your record-breaking spin and send it to us at [email protected]!
2. Nerf gun shooting range
We all love a good Nerf shooting session… and it’s even more fun when you have some proper targets to shoot at. Annoying siblings not counted.
With Linking Cubes, you no longer have rummage through that stash of flimsy disposable cups or paper plates at the back of your kitchen cupboard for some make-do targets.
No more cracked glass on the picture frames around your living room.
Instead, get your kids to make their own shooting targets with linking cubes, which provide a great balance between weight and size. Make them in all shapes and sizes. They’re also really easy to ‘reset’ and put back in place for the next round.
Even better: Assign different point values to targets of different sizes. For example, small, skinny targets can be worth more points than large, wider ones. For those really up for a challenge, shoot at a few standalone cubes as targets for super bonus points.
3. Superhero fest
Bring your favourite superheroes to life!
Whether it’s The Avengers (Marvel), Justice League (DC Comics) or your favourite cartoon character, bring them to life with your cubes:
We’ve actually put together a whole Superhero Manual for building these cubes. To find out more, visit the Shop.
4. Tetris without a console
*Duuum… dum dum duuum… dum dum duuum… dum dum duuum… dum dum duuuumm… duh-duh-dum dum dum dum duummmm*
I had hours of fun playing Tetris during the Gameboy days.
Bring some of that magic back by creating your own Tetris-like game with cubes.Make some Tetris-like shapes and get your kid to put it together to make a square:
Some pro tips for creating your own Tetris puzzle:
- Build the pieces with the stud (i.e. the bit that sticks out) pointing to the sky. Your pieces will fit better.
- Line your cubes up in a square first before snapping the shapes together – that will guarantee your grid is actually solvable!
- Take a photo of your completed square on your phone before you break it up, so you’ll have the solution to hand
- For younger children, start with something simple like a 4 x 4 grid
- If your kid is a smarty-pants, create a mega 10 x 10 puzzle
Even better: 3-D Tetris. Take it one level up and create a 3 x 3 x 3 cube puzzle:
Warning: adults watching nearby may be tempted to take over.
5. Sequencing and logic - with a twist
Ever see these exercises? Continue the pattern below:
While this is fine for younger kids, this is a *yawn* for older kids.
Why not try some brain-twisting 3D sequencing puzzles instead? Using linking cubes that connect in all six different directions, you can make these as elaborate and challenging as your kid can bear:
Even better: Specifically, MathLink Cubes come with different geometric cut-outs on each face of the cube, including a triangle, square, pentagon and hexagon – see pic below. Make these part of the sequence as well.
6. Hand games with an added thrill
Keep score with the cubes to turn even the most simple hand games like ‘rock, paper, scissors’ into an adrenaline-inducing contest. Trust me, it takes things to a whole new level.
Every time someone wins a round, he or she gets to snap another cube to their stack. The fun is, there are no limits as to how set the rules for who’s declared the ultimate winner. For example:
- First person to make a cube stack longer than their forearm wins. These types of ideas are great for playing with kids of different ages, as it helps level the playing field by giving younger children an advantage
- First person to make a cubes as tall as themselves wins
- … Or just keep it simple: First person to ten cubes wins.
Kids actually have fun just picking their favourite coloured cubes or stacking them into a pretty pattern. It doesn’t have to be complicated to be fun!
Even better: For the ultra-competitive, you can allow stealing of cubes from your opponent’s stack. Warning: this approach may invoke tears and blood…
Even better 2.0: If ‘rock, paper, scissors’ is too old-school, have you tried ‘bunny, carrot, gun’?
‘Bunny, Carrot, Gun’ has brought many laughs to my household. It’s also how I’ve cajoled my daughter on many evenings to walk the impossible six-step journey from her bedroom to the bathroom to take a shower (‘winner takes a step, first person to reach the bathroom wins…!’)
Brings back some childhood memories – Elmer Fudd anyone?
7. As good ol' building blocks
Linking Cubes are a great complement (or alternative) to Lego. They’re bigger, not as stiff, much easier to take apart and put away, and they don’t hurt half as much if you step on a piece en route to the bathroom in the middle of the night…
As these blocks are a lot larger than Lego, you cover more ground quickly so they’re ideal for building things like:
- Foregrounds and backgrounds – landscapes, land and sea, islands, mountains, staircases, stages, castles, shores, buildings, battlegrounds…
- Mini furniture – for dolls and figurines, like tables, chairs, beds, sofas…
It’s not just about the comparison with Lego. Linking cubes are a versatile, all-round, no-nonsense addition to kids’ free play in general, limited only by one’s imagination.
