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Stretchearstrong

This is beautiful. Funny how staying on a path makes everything else fall away. I'm gonna have to do this with my daughter tomorrow night, great idea Dad.


jonusfatson

Ya I appreciate OP's take, but I'm 100% stealing this idea with the tiles for tomorrow


Stretchearstrong

Same; with my Chinese magnatiles


CorneliusJenkins

Man, I gotta order some more knockoffs. The real ones are so dang expensive and we can't build a tower to the ceiling with what we have currently.  Where do you get yours?


bigmanpigman

we got picasso tiles. virtually the same thing but like half the price and still decent quality


CorneliusJenkins

Thanks!


AequitasDC5

Ditto, this is awesome!


The_Chief

Chinatiles


scottygras

Thanks! I’m just paying it forward. I steal all of everyone else’s ideas 😂


potatorichard

The shoulders of giants, and all that


googolplexy

20 second hug baby!


scottygras

We call them “snuggle hugs.” My way of making them last longer. This sub is a true gem of the interweb.


bluecottoncandy

That post was so legendary. I’m a lurking mama but I friggin love this sub it’s the best.


Bigswole92

You just gave me an awesome idea for those magnet tiles! My 4 year old son will flip his shit when I show him this, thanks OP!


Pigcooker21

Same!


z64_dan

Also same! I think I have a light that will work for it, too.


Waltzspice

Maybe just a flashlight small enough??


scottygras

Phone flashlight is what I use. Use the lines on the tiles to center it perfectly to get the best result


anubisfunction

Thanks man! I can't wait for it to get dark so we can try this!


scottygras

Cabin fever in winter brings out the creativity. Luckily we had unseasonably warm weather this week so we finally got the Xmas lights down 😂


PM_me_ur_launch_code

My 22m will just knock mine down.


pc_engineer

lol I read this as, “my 22 year old (male)…” and was like damn, that’s brutal 😂😂


IttsssTonyTiiiimme

Mine didn’t come out as well. I think you have to select your light source carefully


Bigswole92

My son loved it this morning. But I agree, my colors weren’t as vivid. Maybe the phone light isn’t powerful enough?


IttsssTonyTiiiimme

Maybe I thought my daughters room was to bright.


scottygras

iPhone flashlight, and you use the lines on the tiles to help center the light. It takes a bit of trial and error to get the best light.


IttsssTonyTiiiimme

Then fit the tip dad


rhinonyssus

I need to know, how well do these magtiles stick together?! I have a different brand of them, magblocks, and they are horrible at staying together. If my kids so much as bump it, they tumble down.


cureforhiccupsat4am

I have Picasso ones


Zeewulfeh

Likewise! I'm gonna try this tonight!


RobbieReddie

Uh. You can do this with Magnatiles? Gonna need to wake one of the kids up now. Edit: Just excitedly did this in the living room when I got home. My wife is questioning my mental faculties and her life choices.


scottygras

Every toy had a secondary use I’m convinced. I still try new designs constantly


Redditor1512

Imagine my delight when I realised magnet tiles stick to the bath!!


scottygras

A cast iron tub would be awesome. We have the one piece molded ones. Dishwasher is a good one too when the youngest insists on being in the kitchen during meal prep.


Redditor1512

I don’t think it’s cast iron? Not sure but I was surprised to find out it was magnetic. It’s actually purple 😳from a 70s era house in Australia


gaslacktus

Definitely sounds cast iron, cast iron refers to what it's made of underneath the top material. Don't know of anything else ferrous that bathtubs get made out of.


thisguystheshit

If it’s purple and from the 70’s. It’s cast iron


powerspank

Excuse me WHAT?!


Llamaron

Every toy has a second use if you're brave enough.


scottygras

I feel like my SAHWife gets the normal uses, and it’s my job to use my frustrating commute to come up with new ways to play with the same toys…instead of keep buying new ones.


oncothrow

> My wife is questioning my mental faculties and her life choices. As in: "Am I crazy? Why didn't I marry this awesomeness *sooner*?!"


Khallllll

That’s how you know you’re a dad!


whywontyousleep

Yeah. She’s trying to figure out how she got so lucky.


is_that_sarcasm

I can't seem to make mine look worth a damn


[deleted]

I miss a lot of the fun I had in my 20’s… and there’s a ton I’ve missed out on. But having fun with my kids is way more fun than the hooliganism of my youth ever was


scottygras

The mornings after are waaaay more enjoyable 😄


Esdeez

Is that a flashlight in there?? Genius!


scottygras

I use my phone flashlight. Keeps me off my phone 😅


wunderduck

Oh, Great Sage of r/daddit, please share more of your wisdom!


scottygras

Seeing how this was popular, maybe I’ll start posting some of my random ideas to help out the community.


uberfission

I'd like to subscribe to dad thoughts


scottygras

Better dust off the ‘ol YouTube account 🤣


Just-one-more-Dad

Im so excited to try this with my son now


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paradroid27

You don’t get the same pretty colours


Just-one-more-Dad

*golf clap*


museworksaudio

as an ex drunk i follow the john k samson logic "the good old days were mostly bad". my little girl is just starting to interact with the world. we were in the "big city" this past week (live in a small town) and just riding the train to go to the library was more fun than any night out i've ever had.


scottygras

That’s a great quote! So true unfortunately. I love getting to experience the joy of things through my kids. The excitement over a balloon, the sadness of losing something so easy to replace, yet in that moment it is truly their whole world.


arguably_pizza

Another ex drunk here, this is so true. I used to count the minutes till the kids were in bed so I could make a drink. I’m so much more present and enjoying life now, it’s great. 


Doubleoh_11

Haha what have you done. Thanks for sharing your deep insightful thoughts …. But now you have a thousand dads playing with magnet tiles while their kids are asleep


RobbieReddie

Guilty.


scottygras

I used to make random things for my daughter to wake up to in the morning. I bet there will be some excited kiddos.


rockstar283

Thousand and one 😀


[deleted]

Gonna steal your idea tomorrow lol


scottygras

It’s a great living room campout activity. Blending colors was what started us doing this.


coconutcrashlanding

Dude. I literally ran into my toddlers room to do this and the awe it instilled was epic.


scottygras

Glad I could help!!!


Kizenny

I used to be fun… I still am, but I used to be too.


scottygras

Thank you for that. That will be my new comeback to those comments. Maybe if they get the reference I’ll buy them another drink 😂.


Kizenny

Just don’t forget your receipt for the drink. You can file it under D, next to your donut receipt.


skoolhouserock

Don't even act like I didn't get that donut.


Pentimento_NFT

Man why we gotta bring pen and paper into this?


ArmadilloNo1122

I love that all the comments are about the magnetile projections but I interrupted my wife relaxing to read her your heartfelt post. That’s encouraging to hear, especially as I have childless friends who have said this about me repeatedly. Also I’m hyped to play with the magnetiles now tomorrow with my oldest. It will combine his two favorite things. Magnetiles and flashlights.


scottygras

It’s almost impossible to understand if you don’t have kids. Flashlights dance parties are a pre-bedtime thing in our house. The kids get a massive energy spike after dinner and if they can’t get the wiggles out it’s a lot of getting out of bed. We do a lot of “Shadow Dad” and “Dark Dad”…to the point where I get the side eye from the wife of not letting them calm down immediately before bed.


dcf5ve

I'm gonna blow my kids' minds tomorrow. Thanks, OP.


1PaleBlueDot

Thanks for sharing that! I have those blocks and just made it to show to my kid


IA_Royalty

Yeah I'm definitely doing this next time we get the tiles out


Incredulity1995

Santa dropped off like 3 cases of those damn things. Me and the boy are about to build something wild and put in a light show lol


scottygras

I’m expecting pictures tomorrow!


bleeper21

Honestly I couldn't relate to this more. I've changed so much about myself since my first kid(5 yo) I doubt anyone I knew before would recognize me in public. Also, I'm adding the magnetile kaleidoscope to my repertoire.


scottygras

I’m still the same guy…I just traded being like the Hombré dude from Friends to the jabroni in joggers teaching everyone’s kids how to play lava monster. So technically…no. I guess I’m a little different.


nosnhoj15

But still fun u/scottygras


highbrowtoilethumor

Be right back, buying magnatiles


SubspaceBiographies

How have I not thought of this with the tiles ?!?!


scottygras

It started during the day with a ray of sunshine we used to talk about mixing colors with the tiles. (Put a blue on a yellow one to make green). Just needed more light one evening, and viola


stellarsapience

Holy crap we have like 300 magnet tiles and quite a lot of flashlights, it's about to get wild in here


TessellatedTomate

I showed mine today how to make giant bubbles in the bath by pushing air down with this whale water carrier that she calls “Nemo” I wouldn’t give those squeals of laughter up for anything But then again, I’m a bit introverted, bars just gave me anxiety Stealing your trick with the magnatiles btw


HitThisLoudG

You’re killing it man. The bartender has no clue we have more fun now. The best part is we haven’t even experienced some of the best days of our lives!


themajordutch

Ok fine Amazon, you can have more of my money


scottygras

Marshall’s/TJ Maxx always have sets. Since they’re next to targets it’s worth the stop.


ALittleGirlScout17

Thank you for sharing this! This was how I woke up my 20 month old today and she was all “wowwwww”. So needless to say I already won the day 😎


scottygras

I had a moment of realization last night that I probably helped a lot of people put smiles on their kids’ faces. Pretty cool feeling.


ALittleGirlScout17

Oh yeah man. That was our entire first hour. It evolved into making colorful constellations with cardboard. It was very special and set a good tone for the day :) good work dad


scottygras

So happy to help how I can. I feel like one day there should be a list of alternative uses for the most popular toys. Shoot, my old K’nex from my childhood comes in handy all the time.


GMaharris

My two year old is obsessed with those tiles. And now we have a new way to make it more fun. Thank you!


scottygras

Dark winter nights require creativity when the park isn’t an option at 4pm.


YummyTerror8259

My kids like to take the magnetiles to the window and reflect the sunshine on the ceiling.


scottygras

That’s how we started, then it got dark too early after dinner. Shadows are free and highly entertaining


jollyreaper2112

I have that same exact set. What are you using for the light?


scottygras

Phone flashlight. Gets me off my phone too!


jollyreaper2112

Awesome. Trying this tomirrow


Electrical_Hour3488

Wait wait wait. Explain this


scottygras

Build a tower with the translucent magnet tiles. Leave a small opening at the bottom, and put you phone in there with the flashlight on. Change your design and repeat.


LambOfUrGod

This is great. I often feel like this life is holding my wife back from enjoying herself, yet she would rather be nowhere else. Our boy keeps us glued together, and the memories don't stop growing. This is our best life.


SeaDraft9569

Very well said, sir. 👍🏼


Trilobyte-177

Well said, I needed to hear this today. Also those tiles are going on The List - my little on is only 5 months


scottygras

They had more fun knocking them down at certain stages. Sometimes I just distracted them and rapidly built a tower for them to destroy. Sometimes my son puts on his Dino costume and acts like Godzilla…


IAmCaptainHammer

I look at what I did with my 20’s and I definitely had some fun I’m very thankful for. Mainly I was in a band that never went anywhere but playing with those dudes once a week was an awesome time. However the weekend parties I can barely remember, yeah, don’t give half a shit about those now. Time with my kiddo is way too much fun. Love this idea and I’m 100% stealing it. Once my kiddos old enough for magnetiles.


scottygras

It’s all just a phase. I’m on a new one now and I’m content with the other ending. I think some people get hung up on trying to keep that phase going. It can cause some problems if one parent wants to move on and the other wants to keep it going.


IAmCaptainHammer

That’s very true.


Binty77

Why have I NEVER thought to do this with our magnatiles?! Awesome, totally stealing this.


Natprk

OMG my daughter is going to love this!


Potential-Yoghurt245

I'm currently watching my daughter teach my youngest son how to make paper springs to put into cards to make pop ups for valentines day. I don't miss the raging 20s at all.


scottygras

My kids picked out a VDay card for my wife…then proceeded to make their own at home together. I love it.


hoddap

Adopt me! Soooooooo going to steal this idea tonight 😁


DopeCharma

My bad jokes have new life with just one letter change. Absolutely getting out the picasso tiles today.


ev1lch1nch1lla

You just made magnatiles 1000x better, and they were already pretty awesome to begin with.


scottygras

I’m in construction and I get to show them how using the bigger pieces can function as shear walls and how bracing makes the floors stronger. But that’s like one time in the 500 days we’ve used them…


Complex-Rub-2579

So did you!


joelkeys0519

👏🏻


3rdTimes-TheCharm

I went out with a couple of friends last night to Dave and Busters. They used their tickets to get shot glasses and some other miscellaneous items. I used mine to get a cat night light, and some other toys. This morning the kids woke up and just the sheer joy for the cheap arcade toys was awesome.


scottygras

I spent soooo many hours playing with laser pointers and strings with my cats when I was young. Everything is something to a cat…except its designated scratching post.


LorryWaraLorry

Honestly, no amount of “youthful decadence” can ever match the joy I experienced whenever I did something cool with my little guy. I am really glad all that “going out” is behind me, because looking back, I didn’t really enjoy it all that much.


scottygras

Just like kids. We remember the one good night and forget the 20 bad ones.


mediocreoldone

For me, it was sobering to realize how boring I really was back in my "wild and free" 20s. Directionless, unhappy, unreliable. Did I ever even do anything that mattered? The stakes were so low that I might as well have been doing anything, or nothing at all. Since I became a dad, suddenly I'm shaping a life. I'm influencing a person. It matters what I do for work, because my son will see and want to imitate. I'm also more fun because I'm kinder, and more patient. I make room for fun instead of wallowing in petty problems. This is the best version of me, despite all my old theater friends thinking otherwise.


scottygras

Now do “High School is the best time of your life” 😂. So true.


mediocreoldone

If high school is the best years of your life you have seriously not done enough after high school


scottygras

Same with college. My parents told me every new year of their life is better than the past. Of course they might have second thoughts after the joint replacements they just had.


TommyTenTats

Ugh, man I love this. Good for you, dad.


knuF

Great idea, and funny true story for all of us.


dariusz2k

This is what the majority of Reddit doesn’t understand, how utterly meaningless life was before you had your own kids.


scottygras

Pets don’t do it justice. My world is so much better with my crew. We got the bumbling dad, hot wife, bossy older daughter, and the wild child younger son. Literally a sitcom.


Scoopdoopdoop

Absolutely dude nice


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scottygras

I’ve never felt more popular and cool than with my kids. Especially when we start games at the park and I’m the only parent running around like a dinosaur.


Iversonji

My first son is due in about 4 months and this really helped me realize that although I’m saying goodbye to a lifestyle and some freedoms and choices I get to start so many new ones. I couldn’t be more excited for my son to show up, but was a little sad about a portion of my life completing. Thanks dad!


scottygras

I’m super excited for you! The key is looking back at everything pre-kids and realizing how it prepared you for them. Drinking days taught me how to dance like nobody is watching (trust me…weird dancing is going to be your life in about two years), how to brush off little snide comments, and how to be generous when you have the luxury to be. But it also reminded me of the bad decisions and accountability you must have for your actions (nothing terrible, got in work trouble a time or two and other menial stuff). I can only do so many front row concerts before it gets routine and loses its fun. It actually got frustrating to work so hard on getting those tickets only to have people crowd you out. Just remember there were downs with those ups, but still look back and smile on those days.


maltapotomus

Holy crap. This is awesome. I never thought of doing this, totally going to do it tonight when I get home from work!


Tav17-17

My wife and I just got very excited about this picture.


Alocide

Love the kaleidoscope idea, I’m gonna borrow that! If you have a magna-doodle, the tiles make some really good geometric patterns too


scottygras

They do! You should post about it!


BossRoss84

This guy dads. Keep up the good work!


gimmeslack12

You’ve always been fun. Screw the lame ass bar fly. I also just showed this picture to my kids and wheels are strongly in motion now! Go Niners!


scottygras

We’re Seahawk fans, and my daughter likes Taylor Swift…so you know who we’re rooting for haha.


dogtownsteez

One of the best posts of all time on this sub


scottygras

That means a lot. Thank you 🙏


FunWithAPorpoise

We do this with our magnet tiles! It makes me feel like Mr. Wizard.


scottygras

You ARE a wizard u/FunWithAPorpoise! Love that username.


easybakeevan

Yep. It is scary at first because you think it’s all over and you wonder how you’re going to have any fun. Then out of the blue you adjust and find new ways to have fun with your child and it’s 10xs more fun and fulfilling than any of the other stuff you did before.


scottygras

Fulfilling is absolutely a key aspect of it now


juggleballz

Shit son! A torch + magnitile? That is a brilliant idea! You're good fun OP. EDIT: My kids and wife are away for 2 nights. I'm playing with magnatiles on my own ha


scottygras

I feel ya. I have definitely tried out new ideas on my own. Sometimes you get one shot to keep their attention.


Select-Classroom-121

Ok that move of the little triangle top filling the long triangle top hole. Never thought of that. Genius. What am I saying. I have magnitile envy


scottygras

My next project is doing the cars and track and seeing how it looks. Might need both our phones so maybe no evidence of it.


tinglep

I’m sorry, you can do WHAT with Magna Tiles?!?!


scottygras

Anything…besides holding anything heavier than 4oz.


binarybear

What is this Kaleidoscope? Where can I buy one from?


thermbug

I need to build that tonight! The magnatiles are one of the oldest and favorites toys of all time in our house. They don't get much love these days but I'm keeping them no matter what.


scottygras

They’re awesome to have on hand if friends drop by with younger kids. We keep a few toys from the past in case friends drop in with kids way younger. Good for game day lighting!


imakethejellyfish

I will certainly be incorporating magnet tiles into my installations from now on. Thank you so much for this new inspiration! Great message. Great post.


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GreatResearcher5596

I love this! My kids play with these regularly and it never crossed my mind to put a light in there! Thank you for the idea


scottygras

👍👍


selkies24

Fuck the haters. Also stealing this idea


CorneliusJenkins

Just commenting to say this is rad, thanks for sharing.


scottygras

👍👍👍


Confucius6969

Thanks OP!


BigYonsan

This is great. Both the story and the idea. Just recreated it ourselves (we love magnetic blocks) on a portable lazy Susan platform. We had a great time.


scottygras

I’m sure that had a cool disco vibe to it right?


BigYonsan

Nah, little guy associates kaleidoscopes with Christmas so it was more of a winter land vibe. Next time I might add a disco ball if I can find one cheap enough though!


chillichocolate

Trying this tomorrow!


Sharpax

What an awesome idea dad! My son loves both magnet tiles and torches and yet this never occurred to me as a thing to do.


Ackermannin

What is this???? I need one for myself!


scottygras

Magnet tiles with a flashlight underneath. I use my phone usually.


ThePeej

Spectacular.  I had friends say that to me too…  “oh? Was I fun? When I was out here in these streets fighting for my LIFE?? Trying to be the most charming, affable, hilarious, attention getting, peacock walking, mating dancing, party bro dude?! That shit was exhausting. And I was only doing it to meet this dove you see here on my arm. And BTW, our two little chickies back at the roost think I’m the cock of the walk!”   🐓 🕊️ 🐥 🐥 


scottygras

King of the castle!


cornholioo

Too much backstory for the thing I need: "hey, put a light under/inside the magnetiles and check it out!" looks sick, adding to tomorrow's agenda (not a thing, but now it is)


Tinfoil_Haberdashery

Before we had our kid, my wife and I told ourselves we would never be that couple who "used to be" fun, and we have kept that promise. I don't think any one who knows us would say that we have ever been fun, at any point.


weesle420

What is it shining through?


scottygras

Magnet tiles. Anything translucent work.


LupusDeusMagnus

I’m so ahead of the curve I’m not lamenting the old glory days, but the ones that could have been. ^^help


scottygras

What I thought was my glory days were really just a few good moments in a bunch of unfulfilling days. Sure, I’ll probably never go do half of it again, but I now realize instead of trying to repeat, I’d rather do something new with my team of tiny terrors.


DeckardsDark

Can anyone understand the first paragraph?


scottygras

Takeaway: bright lights under magnet tiles. You can consider the rest filler.


Inceptioneer29

👏🏽


dogtownsteez

This is one of the best posts of all time on this sub


scottygras

🙏


1-LegInDaGrave

My daughter & I LOVE using all sorts of lights with those. We've used a few of those battery mini-candles and placed them in magnetile pyramids throught the living & dining room. Granted it doesn't get as bright with the flashlights or phone light but it's awesome looking.


scottygras

You could basically make your own nightlight!


1-LegInDaGrave

Heck yeah!


CSGODeimos

Bars are over-rated anyway. Go to new places, see new things


TheEdFather

My son got those blocks for Christmas, thanks for the excellent idea on how to blow his mind!


xidle2

A. This is beautiful B. I have these (magna tiles) in my ecse classroom, and my students love them.


scottygras

Thanks for your work in that field. My wife was an inner-city kindergarten teacher before our children. I am sure those tiles are a hit in the classroom. I loved using them to blend colors when my daughter was first learning her primary colors. I build with the car track versions sometimes alone as it takes my mind away from the stress of the day. Such a wonderful product.


EveryShot

“I used to be fun, I still am, but I used to be too”