Article: How to Start a Connetix Collection: A Parent's Guide to Choosing Your First Magnetic Tiles

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Sep 9, 2024play

How to Start a Connetix Collection: A Parent's Guide to Choosing Your First Magnetic Tiles

Not sure where to start with Connetix? We're here to help

Connetix is one of our favourite ranges for children of every age — and honestly, for parents too. These magnetic tiles are a genuinely open-ended resource: there's no single right way to use them, no instructions to follow, and no age at which they stop being interesting. From flat 2D pictures and patterns to towering 3D castles, garages and ball runs, the possibilities keep growing as your child does.

But we know that first purchase can feel like a big decision. Which pack should you start with? What's actually in each one? Which pieces will still be useful in three years' time?

This guide walks you through every Connetix pack type, what each one is best for, and how to grow a collection over time — so you can start small or go big, and know you've made a good choice either way.

Shop the full Connetix range →

First, a quick word on colourways

Connetix packs come in a few different colour families, and this is usually the first choice parents make:

Bright (formerly Rainbow, transitioning to bright) - bold, vivid primary and secondary colours. Six colours across most packs.
Pastel - eight soft, earthy tones. A little calmer visually, and because there are more colours in the range, pastel packs often contain a slightly higher piece count for the same shapes.
Speciality colourways - glitter, black roads & galaxy that layer beautifully over either core range.

Here's the reassuring part: every Connetix tile is compatible with every other Connetix tile, regardless of colourway. Mixing bright and pastel is completely fine, and many families end up with both. Choose the one you'll enjoy having out in your living room, because these tiles rarely get packed away.

Please note: Connetix is gradually transitioning some pack names and contents as it rolls out a refreshed range. Piece counts and exact contents can vary between bright and rainbow packs, as well as ball runs, so always check the individual product page for the most current details.

Where to start: the three core packs

Almost every Connetix collection begins with one of three pack types. All three are "complete" starting points - they contain squares and triangles, which are the workhorse shapes that everything else builds on.

Mega Packs | Best value, best all-rounder

Best for: families who know they'll use them, gifting from grandparents, or anyone who'd rather buy once and buy well.

The Mega Packs are the largest Connetix sets and the best value per tile. They include every standard shape — large and small squares, all three triangle types, hexagons, windows, doors, rectangles and fences — plus car bases in most versions.

Why this matters: with a Mega Pack you can build a genuinely large structure on day one. Nothing stalls open-ended play faster than running out of tiles halfway through a castle, and Mega Packs make that far less likely. They're also the most cost-effective route if you suspect you'll be adding more later anyway.

Creative Packs | The popular middle ground

Best for: most families. This is our most-recommended starting point.

The Creative Packs sit just below the Mega Packs and are, for a lot of households, the sweet spot. They contain a generous mix of squares, triangles and feature pieces like windows and doors — enough for real 3D building, without the Mega Pack price tag.

If you're buying a first Connetix pack for a child aged around three and up and you want it to hold up as they grow, this is the one we'd point you to.

Starter Packs | A smaller first step

Best for: testing the waters, younger children, or a lovely mid-range gift.

The Starter Packs do exactly what the name suggests. They contain a good core range of squares and triangles at a friendlier price point, which makes them ideal if you're not yet sure how your little one will take to magnetic tiles — or if you'd like to see what they gravitate towards before investing further.

They're also easy to build on. A Starter Pack plus one expansion pack down the track gets you to a very capable collection.

Our tip: whichever you choose, start with a pack that contains squares and triangles. These are the foundation shapes, and every specialty pack works better when you already have a base of them.

What to add next: Connetix expansion packs explained

Once you have a core pack, expansion packs are how a collection really comes alive. Rather than listing every piece, here's what each type of pack does — so you can choose based on how your child actually plays.

Squares and rectangles - for the builders

If your child builds tall, these are the packs to add first. Square and rectangle packs are the most versatile expansion you can buy: they're easy for small hands to line up, they make structurally sound walls, and rectangles are effectively several squares joined together for extra stability.

They're the go-to for towers, garages, fences, and anyone working towards a ball run. If you only ever add one expansion pack, make it one of these.

Shape and geometry packs - for intricate creations

Geometry and Shape Expansion packs introduce hexagons, pentagons, diamonds, trapezoids, quarter circles and larger triangles. These unlock the more interesting stuff: domes, rockets, robots, animals and beautiful flat 2D mandalas.

They're a wonderful second or third purchase, and because the shapes are unusual, they tend to reignite interest in a collection that's been sitting quietly for a while. They also work brilliantly on their own against a fridge, whiteboard or magnetic panel — which makes them a lovely, affordable gift.

Motion, transport and roads - for wheels-mad kids

If your little one narrates everything with engine noises, this is your category.

Transport packs are the full vehicle-building experience — car and truck bases plus the tiles to build trucks, trains, aircraft, fire engines and forklifts around them.

Motion packs are a smaller version, great for building compact cars and vehicles without needing to raid the rest of the collection.

Car packs are just the wheeled bases — perfect if you already have plenty of tiles and simply want to make them move.

Roads packs feature sleek black tiles with ramps, turns, intersections and quarter circles. They can run alongside your existing structures as roads, or be used on their own for buildings and towers that stand out against your coloured tiles.

Ball runs - for older children and serious engineering

Ball run packs are where Connetix gets properly impressive. Tubes, bends, spirals, slides and bowls combine into towers that send wooden balls twisting down through the structure — brilliant for cause-and-effect learning, problem solving and a good deal of trial and error.

Ball runs come in two forms: starter ball run packs, which include connecting tiles, tubes and balls, and ball run expansion packs, which add spirals, X tubes and double bowls to a run you already have. There are also newer additions like launcher packs, which fire the ball through the run at the push of a button, and galaxy-toned sets for something a bit different.

Our honest tip: don't buy a ball run pack as your very first Connetix purchase. Ball run packs contain ball run tiles and tubes, but not many standard building tiles, so they're designed to sit on top of an existing collection. Pair one with a Mega, Creative or Starter pack, or add a square pack alongside, and you'll get far more out of it.

Base plates - the unsung heroes

Base plates give structures a solid, stable footing so children can build higher without the whole thing wobbling. If your child's towers keep collapsing at a frustrating height, a base plate is often the fix.

Bright Base Plates · Pastel Base Plates

Mini and travel packs - for out and about

Mini packs are a small selection of core shapes at an affordable price. They make excellent stocking fillers, party gifts, or a first taste of Connetix — and travel-specific packs come designed for cafés, car trips and flights, where a compact set of tiles is worth its weight in gold.

Speciality packs worth knowing about

These aren't starting points, but they're some of the most-loved packs in the range once a collection is established.

Glitter packs have a glitter fleck running through the tile, catching the light as children build. The Castle and Unicorn packs bring squares, triangles, hexagons and trapezoids together for shimmering castles, bridges, animals and fantasy creations.

Portal packs feature three sizes of square that nest neatly inside one another, with the mini squares able to spin a full 360 degrees within the portal. A genuinely clever addition for STEAM play and older children.

Light-up packs include a rechargeable light-up magnetic tile alongside standard shapes, turning a build into a glowing light show. Wonderful for evening play and colour exploration.

Charity packs are limited-edition single-colour sets released in support of research and community causes.

A simple path for building your collection

If you'd like a rough roadmap, this is the order most families naturally follow:

Start with a core pack — Mega, Creative or Starter, depending on budget. Squares and triangles are the foundation.
Add volume next — a square or rectangle pack, so bigger builds don't run out of tiles.
Follow their interest — transport and roads for vehicle lovers, geometry and shape packs for pattern makers and detailed builders.
Add a base plate when structures start getting tall.
Introduce a ball run once there's a solid tile base to build it on.
Sprinkle in speciality packs — glitter, portals or light-up tiles make wonderful birthday and Christmas gifts that slot straight into what they already own.

There's no wrong order here. Because every tile is compatible, nothing you buy will ever be redundant.

Connetix FAQs

Which Connetix pack should I buy first?

For most families, a Creative Pack is the best balance of value and versatility. If budget allows and you're confident it'll get plenty of use, a Mega Pack is better value per tile. If you'd rather start small, a Starter Pack is a great introduction.

Are Connetix bright and pastel tiles compatible?

Yes. All Connetix tiles work together regardless of colourway, so you can mix bright, pastel, glitter and roads tiles freely.

What age is Connetix suitable for?

Connetix is recommended for children aged three and over. That said, its open-ended nature means it grows with a child — older children build ball runs and complex geometry while younger ones make flat patterns and simple houses.

Do I need a ball run pack to start?

No, and we'd suggest not starting there. Ball run packs contain specialist tubes and connecting tiles rather than standard building tiles, so they work best added to an existing collection.

How many Connetix tiles do you need?

There's no magic number, but around 100 tiles is where most families find 3D building really opens up. Below that, a collection is still plenty of fun — it just tends to build outwards rather than upwards.

Is Connetix worth the money?

Connetix sits at a premium price point, and the reason we stock it is longevity. The tiles are robust, the magnets are strong enough for tall structures, and the bevelled design makes them easier for little hands to align. It's a toy that tends to stay in rotation for years rather than months.

Ready to start your Connetix collection?

Whether you're beginning with a Mini Pack or diving straight into a Mega, you're setting your little one up with a toy that will grow alongside them. And if you're still not sure which pack suits your family, we'd love to help — pop into our Thames store or send us a message and we'll talk it through with you.

Shop all Connetix at Mom Store →

Anna Barlow

Anna is the founder of Mom Store, a New Zealand business dedicated to pregnancy, postpartum, and early parenting essentials. A former nurse and mum of two, she started Mom Store in 2020 to fill a gap she'd personally felt & has since developed her own in-house brand, Carry. Anna runs Mom Store from her warehouse and store in Thames, Coromandel.