Magnetic toddler fishing toy with reel rod: Kkoma Fishing King

Why I started fishing play with my 24-month-old

As my baby grows, I think finding toys that suit each stage of development is one of a mom's important missions (?). Fishing play was something I had always wanted to let my child try, so I decided to give it a go after the second birthday. Until now, I thought my child would be too young to play with it properly, but it seems just right as a toy for a 24-month-old.

The product I tried was the Kkoma Fishing King magnetic fishing play set. It comes with colorful little sea friends that children are likely to find interesting, so I thought it would be nice for learning, too.

What's included with Kkoma Fishing King?

Besides the main sea-creature pieces, the set includes an air mat, nets, a reel rod, a standard rod, a basket, and a hand pump. I was happy with the selection—it has everything needed for play.

There are 58 fishing pieces in total, which is plenty. Even if a few go missing, I think there would still be no problem playing with it.

Why my child preferred the reel rod

The set comes with a reel rod and a standard rod, and my child preferred the reel rod. Even without actually turning the reel to fish, I guess the reel rod just looked better to my child.

The sea creatures have screws set into their bodies, and the magnet in the fishing rod pulls onto those screws to catch them. This product is said to have earned KC certification, so it felt reassuring to let my child play with it.

Making a play space with the air mat and hand pump

Because the air mat and hand pump are included, you can make an inflatable mat for fishing play on the spot. Fill it up with the hand pump and you have a firm air mat. It is just the right size for a 24-month-old's toy. The pump looks small, but once I tried it, it worked very well.

Once fishing play started, my child held onto the reel rod and would not let go. I asked whether Mom could have a turn too, but the answer that came back was only “no.”

More play with sea creatures and nets

I released the sea creatures onto the fully inflated air mat and started fishing play. The mat itself is hot pink, and the little sea friends are truly so colorful.

There are three nets included as well, and my child also had fun playing at catching fish with the nets.

This mom, who has fantasies about fishing play, joined in fishing for fish with the standard rod. The magnet was quite strong, so catching the fish was not difficult.

Playing together while teaching names

Besides fish, there are various sea creatures such as seahorses, crabs, and squid, so it was nice to play while teaching their names. Of course, my child did not remember everything I taught right away, but after hearing the names a few times, my child definitely recognized them at some point.

There are also fruits and vegetables mixed in here and there, including carrots, peanuts, corn, and grapes, and my child had fun finding those too. My child has been especially fond of grapes lately, so was very happy to see the grape piece.

My child still does not clearly understand the principle (?) of fishing play, but kept having fun and following along as Mom explained it. I thought my child might play with it in a completely different way, but instead followed Mom, caught fish, and even tried saying their names.

It feels a little early for a toy for a 24-month-old, but my child had fun with it in their own way. They say the best baby items are the ones you buy early and get plenty of use from, so although it may be a bit early, I am very satisfied that I got this fishing play set.