The Binky Journal | Meet the Maker
Some toys get played with for a week. Others become part of the furniture of childhood the box that comes out on rainy Sundays, at playdates, after school, and years later for a younger sibling.
CONNETIX belongs firmly in the second camp. When we decided to bring a magnetic tile brand to Binkyshop.co.uk, we didn't want the cheapest or the loudest. We wanted the one we'd happily buy for our own family. Here's why we chose CONNETIX magnetic tiles and why we think they're one of the most rewarding open-ended toys you can give.
The CONNETIX story: born at the school gate
CONNETIX began with two families who met when their children started primary school together in Perth, Australia. Brea Brand is a Masters-qualified early-childhood teacher; Dave Alexander spent years as a mechanical designer before moving into manufacturing and business. Watching their own children learn while they built, they set out to make a better magnetic tile: stronger, safer and more beautiful than anything already on the shelf. They launched in June 2019.
That mix of classroom know-how and engineering is exactly what drew us in. These aren't tiles dreamt up in a marketing meeting. They're designed by people who understand how children think, test and build and who know what it takes to make something that survives real family life.
Why CONNETIX leads the magnetic tile industry
In just a few years, CONNETIX has grown from a kitchen-table idea into a global team of parents, educators and product specialists, with an online community of more than a million followers sharing their builds. Their tiles are recognised with industry awards and are both STEAM and MESH accredited, supporting learning across science, technology, engineering, arts and maths as well as emotional resilience.
For us, that leadership matters. When you buy CONNETIX from Binky, you're buying from the brand others are measured against.
Always evolving: new CONNETIX tiles and sets
What really won us over is that CONNETIX never stops refining. The range has grown far beyond the original Rainbow set into Pastel and Clear tiles, Glitter and Light tiles, Rectangles, Base Plates, Ball Runs, Roads & Transport packs and PRO sets for bigger ambitions.
Crucially, they don't add products just for the sake of something new. Each addition is designed to open up fresh ways to play while keeping the quality families already trust and much of it is shaped by listening to how children around the world actually build. So a starter set today can grow, piece by piece, into a whole world of marble runs, cities, castles and light-filled dens.
Open-ended play: endless builds from one box
Magnetic tiles are the definition of open-ended play. There are no instructions to follow and no single “right” answer — just shapes, colour, light and imagination. A toddler stacks and sorts. A five-year-old builds a rocket. An eight-year-old engineers a ball run that loops across the living-room floor.
That's why CONNETIX suits every personality we curate for: the curious thinker testing balance and geometry, the creative soul playing with colour and light, the wild adventurer building garages and racetracks, and the gentle dreamer creating castles and stories.
Quality magnetic tiles, made to be handed down
At Binky we choose toys for quality, play value and longevity and CONNETIX ticks every box. The details are thoughtfully engineered:
- Strong magnets that hold taller, more ambitious builds, meaning fewer collapses and less frustration
- Ultrasonic welding and metal rivets that keep magnets securely sealed inside each tile
- A signature bevelled edge that adds strength and throws beautiful refractions of light across the room
- Non-toxic ABS that is BPA, lead and phthalate-free, safety tested for ages 3+ against rigorous international standards
The most sustainable toy is one that never ends up in the bin. CONNETIX tiles are made to withstand years of enthusiastic play, then be passed on to a sibling, a cousin or the next family still clicking, still glowing.
Safe, ethical toys with values we share
CONNETIX was founded by parents, and it shows. Their commitment to care, integrity and purpose runs from how each tile is designed and tested to how the business is run. Founded by an educator, staffed by educators and parents, and centred on learning through play, it's a brand whose values sit naturally alongside ours: conscious gifting, toys chosen with care, and play that matters.
CONNETIX magnetic tiles: your questions answered
What age are CONNETIX magnetic tiles for?
They're safety tested for ages 3+, but the play grows with your child. Older children love tackling ball runs, tall towers and engineering challenges.
Are CONNETIX tiles safe?
Yes. They're made from non-toxic ABS that is BPA, lead and phthalate-free, with magnets sealed in by ultrasonic welding and metal rivets, and tested to rigorous international standards.
Why choose CONNETIX over cheaper magnetic tiles?
Stronger magnets mean taller, steadier builds and less frustration. The bevelled design adds durability and beautiful light refractions, so the tiles last for years rather than months.
Are magnetic tiles educational?
Very. CONNETIX is STEAM and MESH accredited, supporting maths, engineering, creativity and problem-solving alongside confidence and resilience.
Do CONNETIX tiles make a good gift?
They're one of our favourite birthday gifts for children who love to build, and a set that can be added to year after year.
Why it feels like Binky
After more than two decades designing toys with brands around the world, I've learned that the best ones share three things: they're beautifully made, they grow with a child, and they keep inviting them back. CONNETIX has all three.
The moment a child clicks two tiles together, holds a build up to the window and watches the colours dance across the floor now that's the hop, skip and jump of joy we started Binky for.
We can't wait to see what your little builders create.
Explore the CONNETIX collection at Binkyshop.co.uk →
Share your builds with us using #BinkyShop and #EthicalToys.
Alexis x
Founder, Binky
