Several years ago, I thought I would help out the parents of my gifted and talented students by writing about some games, toys, or books that I thought might make good purchases during the holiday season. I called the series of posts, “Gifts for the Gifted,” and I have continued to do it annually (except for 2019) every November and December. These gifts are suggestions for any child – not just those who qualify for a GT program. Sometimes I receive a free product for review, but I am not paid for these posts, and I never recommend a product that I wouldn’t buy for my own child. For past “Gifts for the Gifted” posts, including my 2022 list, you can visit this page. I also have a Pinterest Board of Games and Toys for Gifted Students.
Magnets are so fascinating to children. To be honest, I find them intriguing as well. They almost seem alive in the way they move towards or away from each other, and the clever (or should I say, “Klever”?) people at Kluster have figured out how to make this into a game.
Before you read too far, I should mention that the recommended age level for Kluster is 14+. This is not due to the mental acuity that is required to play this game, but rather the potential hazards of magnets for young children. The included instructions do caution that these magnets are not toys, and that they should be kept out of reach of children because of how dangerous ingestions can be. These are powerful magnets, so the usual warnings to avoid exposing them to electronics or people who have pacemakers or implanted defibrillators apply.
Now that the serious part is out of the way, let’s get to why I’m including Kluster on my annual list this year. First of all, it’s fun and super addictive. Secondly, the rules are easy to learn. And third, this set comes in an attractive, sturdy box and includes a cloth pouch, making it easy to store and very portable.
Kluster can be played solo or with up to 4 players. You can pretty much play it anywhere with a flat surface (just keep in mind that electronics warning). There are 24 magnetic stones and 1 cord. If 2, 3, or 4 people are playing, your setup is just to divide the stones evenly and place the cord on the table so it creates the playing area within its ring.
Then each player takes a turn placing a stone within the ring. The first player to get rid of all of their stones wins. The catch, of course, is that you can’t place your stone too close to another because if any of the stones attach during your turn you must pick them up.
The strategizing comes into play as you: try to figure out how you can force another player to put their stone too close, decide if you want to try to use a stone to try to move another stone (you can’t touch other stones in the ring, but you can use your own’s polarity to your advantage), or attempt to adjust the ring without accidentally forcing any stones too close to each other.
It’s difficult to find games that you can break out at a party attended by different age groups and start playing immediately, but Kluster is a good addition to that category. It’s also a nice alternative for those rare moments in the classroom when you just want to give kids some time to play. If you’re a counselor or therapist, this game is perfect for playing while having conversations. And, families can easily bring Kluster on road trips to play at stops.
With its portability and instant engagement, Kluster is definitely a gift you should consider adding to your list this year!