Runningmom80 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 I know, I know, it's ridiculously priced. I just heard about it on the Homeschool Sisters podcast and I'm intrigued. I have 6 year old twins, so I think we would get some use out of it, if it's actually useful. :lol: Has anyone purchased this? Is it worth the cost? https://spielgaben.com/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wendyroo Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 My kids just about died the other day when I asked them to pick up a 100 piece puzzle that had tipped onto the floor...and that clean up did not even involve sorting of any kind or neatly stacking parts in little containers. I'm sure my kids would love playing with Spielgaben for a while (though probably not as much as lego), but after 20 minutes every single piece would be on the floor and clean up would be a nightmare. I mostly just don't get it. For far less money I can buy A LOT of lacing beads, foam shape stickers, tooth picks and marshmallows, geometric solids, bean bags, block sets, etc. YMMV, Wendy 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawyer&Mom Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Great. Now I want one. For me. Thanks a lot. (No really. The kids would just make a mess. I would love putting everything in the little drawers....) 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 I have followed the bloggers who post about it (who got it free to post about it!) and it looks/sounds like a good idea, but I don't think practically that kids would be interested in it long-term to get your money's worth for the use in a family. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 I have followed the bloggers who post about it (who got it free to post about it!) and it looks/sounds like a good idea, but I don't think practically that kids would be interested in it long-term to get your money's worth for the use in a family. That is my fear. I just want a learning toy that does it all. Is that too much to ask? :lol: (That isn't an ipad. ;)) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 You can make up your own kit with manipulatives and things and tailor it to what your kids would actually use. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 You can make up your own kit with manipulatives and things and tailor it to what your kids would actually use. I mean, that sounds great in theory, but would I actually be able to replicate this with no instructions on how to use the materials? Not a chance. :laugh: I'd probably spend a bunch of money for stuff that would end up in the garbage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petrichor Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 I mean, that sounds great in theory, but would I actually be able to replicate this with no instructions on how to use the materials? Not a chance. :laugh: I'd probably spend a bunch of money for stuff that would end up in the garbage. I was going to suggest just buying the guides, but they only let you buy those if you bought the $500 wooden box thing. :/ If you've got the $600 and are ok with spending that much for just one year (because, what if they don't like it?), then go for it. I'm sure good quality materials similar to what they offer can be had for a lot less than they are selling it for the full set. I've never heard of this thing before you posted about it. It seems kind of "young" for 7-12 year olds. My 7 year old would see some of the materials as babyish. And with twins, will they be fighting over space on the playboard and materials? I don't like how their website talks about how you NEED their stuff for your kid, along with the fact that they don't let you buy the $$ books without having bought their wooden box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 Have you seen this old thread? The review and links might help http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/485996-opinions-on-spielgaben-please/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 Have you seen this old thread? The review and links might help http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/485996-opinions-on-spielgaben-please/ No! Thank you. It didn't come up in my search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 3, 2017 Author Share Posted February 3, 2017 Ok so maybe I'll just finally bite the bullet and buy some magnatiles at a fraction of the price. (Not the same thing but we need some new things to play that aren't a screen.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in Australia Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 I have the whole set. I bought it because I received funding to buy things to help the twins with their Global Develpomental Delays. We have had the set for 1 year. We have used the set sporadically. Mostly because the twins lacked the ability to stay focused for more than a few minutes on a task and lacked the cognitive skills to place things together to get a end result. They have improved and just worked out how to place a few pattern blocks together etc. I am planning that this year we will be using the set for their math. (School year just started this week here in Australia). I envisage that the set will be of a huge benefit in fine motor development, and logic planning skills. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
school17777 Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 I mean, that sounds great in theory, but would I actually be able to replicate this with no instructions on how to use the materials? Not a chance. :laugh: I'd probably spend a bunch of money for stuff that would end up in the garbage. I mean buy similar kits. Lakeshore Learning has lots of things that are in the same gist. For example, the shape pieces and cards to make different things with them. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CadenceSophia Posted February 3, 2017 Share Posted February 3, 2017 (edited) So is this basically a Froebel based curriculum packed up all neatly into a box? I like that idea. I desperately want a work table with a grid carved into it but DH makes a lot of our furniture and the idea horrifies him :) Edit: Whoops I just read the link above which confirms that idea! .. My kids would destroy everything in a matter of minutes but I still want it now. Edited February 3, 2017 by CadenceSophia 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lang Syne Boardie Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Have you seen this old thread? The review and links might help http://forums.welltrainedmind.com/topic/485996-opinions-on-spielgaben-please/ Arcadia, thank you so much for linking that thread! Eclecticmum's post may be one of the most important things I've ever read on these forums (which is saying a lot; I've been around a long time). I fell down a rabbit hole of research this afternoon, beginning to learn as much as I can about Froebel's work, and how to use the Gifts. This is going to be very significant for my youngest child, who is an artist who learns best with his hands. The Frank Lloyd Wright connection is amazing and instructive...I'll stop talking now... thanks again for the link. A boy's life will be changed for the better with these tools and philosophies. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I have one. Got it second hand - cheaper. It's... hard to describe. The kids love playing with it and actually do fairly well with packing it up and NOT just tipping it all out (wish they could do that with lego!) We do some of the activities sporadically - some are great and some fairly underwhelming. The kids generally like to just play with it but I use the manuals and am glad to have them. And I'm not generally a 'need the teacher guide' person. I don't know if it is worth the exorbitant price, but I don't regret buying it and I am happy that I have it as a resource... Clear as mud? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momacacia Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Sounds like I could get this at Ikea. No? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fdrinca Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 Arcadia, thank you so much for linking that thread! Eclecticmum's post may be one of the most important things I've ever read on these forums (which is saying a lot; I've been around a long time). I fell down a rabbit hole of research this afternoon, beginning to learn as much as I can about Froebel's work, and how to use the Gifts. This is going to be very significant for my youngest child, who is an artist who learns best with his hands. The Frank Lloyd Wright connection is amazing and instructive...I'll stop talking now... thanks again for the link. A boy's life will be changed for the better with these tools and philosophies. I keep waiting for Froebel to become popular. His work is SO fascinating and has been useful for my ASD kiddo. (The rest love it too; he just gets into it in an almost religious way.) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arcadia Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I have the whole set. I bought it because I received funding to buy things to help the twins with their Global Develpomental Delays. I remembered your thread but I didn't remember if you purchased in the end. Glad your twins enjoys it. Spiel is play in Deutsch so this item's name just attracts me in a way. The Frank Lloyd Wright connection is amazing and instructive. My oldest read about Frank Wright because my kid likes architecture which Frank Wright is famous for. He also like the Guatemalan hack sack (crocheted) balls as fitget and he likes Keva planks (and just building structures in general from cards, toothpicks, whatever materials lying around). 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 So I've literally spent hours researching this, and now my poor husband has been sucked in as well. (Exciting Friday night we are having!) I am obviously going to think on this for a while, but I have not researched myself out of buying it. Here are a few blog posts: http://www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com/blog/2014/04/spielgaben-play-based-learning.html http://www.onlypassionatecuriosity.com/spiel-spielgaben-homeschool/ And this blogger has been at this Spielgaben business for a while. (She says they are coming out with a math curriculum! :w00t: ) http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.net/2017/01/making-math-come-alive-with-spielgaben/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 I have one. Got it second hand - cheaper. It's... hard to describe. The kids love playing with it and actually do fairly well with packing it up and NOT just tipping it all out (wish they could do that with lego!) We do some of the activities sporadically - some are great and some fairly underwhelming. The kids generally like to just play with it but I use the manuals and am glad to have them. And I'm not generally a 'need the teacher guide' person. I don't know if it is worth the exorbitant price, but I don't regret buying it and I am happy that I have it as a resource... Clear as mud? I think if you don't regret it and you are happy to have it, it's clearly worth it! :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LMD Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I think if you don't regret it and you are happy to have it, it's clearly worth it! :) That's my theory too. :) For some reason, all the kids looooove the wool balls in gift 1 (I think?) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 4, 2017 Author Share Posted February 4, 2017 Oh wow that *is* adorable. It's like heaven in a drawer. :) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sewingmama Posted February 4, 2017 Share Posted February 4, 2017 I know someone who has one and she has 4 daughters. Apparently they use it a lot in loose parts play. My kids are famous for not using things like that after the intial day of excitement...I would go with Magnatiles 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Runningmom80 Posted February 6, 2017 Author Share Posted February 6, 2017 For anyone interested, here's a DIY I found on Pinterest https://hazenhomeandschool.wordpress.com/2014/10/20/our-version-of-spielgaben/amp/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4KookieKids Posted July 5, 2018 Share Posted July 5, 2018 Oh, all these sad reviews. ? I'm curious what the OP decided, even though this was a long time ago? We use our Spielgaben almost daily (and definitely weekly), and have for the last three years straight... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bemis Posted January 16, 2021 Share Posted January 16, 2021 We have also had our Spielgaben set for three years. My kids are now 6-9 years old, and still use it at least weekly, and often daily. I ended up buying it to not have so many different types of similar things, but of cheaper quality. I LOVE Spielgaben in that it all works together. We use is regularly with our math, substituting Spielgaben for other manipulatives (sticks for tally sticks, square tiles, geometric 3D shapes, etc.). The kids use it for free play also. We will be living all in one room for a few months while having major house work done, and Spielgaben is the one "toy" that we will be bringing with us, because I know that the kids use it in so many ways for so many different things. They're pretty good about putting it away. When we first got it, there were a couple of times when they decided to make "soup" by mixing everything together, and that wasn't so fun to deal with, but that was thankfully rare and short-lived. They like the sticks and balls very best and make a lot of spinning tops these days, among other things. But they use all parts of this set at different times. My only regret is that I didn't buy it sooner, when my oldest was younger (more like 3 or 4 instead of 6). I would have used this in place of so many other things we had. If you have the means, I definitely recommend it. This and cheaper versions of magnatiles have been my kids' favorite toys. I don't think we really needed anything else. This also would be a perfectly fine preschool-1st grade curriculum, with some read-alouds thrown in. It works for math, letter learning (make them out of sticks and curves, like Handwriting Without Tears). Like I said, if I did it over, I would have gotten it sooner and not purchased other educational materials other than books for that age. I foresee us using it for years still to come, and it will be one of the few things I will keep around for small visitors and grandchildren when my kids grow out of it (if they ever do...). We have used it to create molecule models, and I already have visions of creating DNA models out of this as well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KNgo Posted March 12, 2021 Share Posted March 12, 2021 Does anyone know where this is made? I understand it's from an Australian company...? But is it made there? The English on the site and in their emails is a bit rough in spots, so I was curious if it's actually based somewhere other than Australia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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